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Chicago Daily Herald

April 10, 2012 Tuesday

The car the right wing cannot kill

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 12

LENGTH: 626 words

Imagine that. Former Republican President George H.W. Bush recently bought his son Neil a Chevrolet Volt as a birthday present. This is the car that all right-thinking right-wingers demand we hate. In their political prism, the Volt has everything going against it: It's beloved by environmentalists for getting 61 miles to the gallon. It's assembled by unionized workers at General Motors' Detroit-Hamtramck plant. It enjoys government subsidies intended to encourage the production of fuel-efficient cars (started actually by H.W.'s oldest son, former President George W. Bush).

To many, this resembles progress. But to "conservatives" wanting government-bailed-out Detroit to go down in flames, especially if the United Auto Workers union goes with it, this plug-in hybrid is the car that has to die.

Lo and behold, U.S. car sales were hot last month, with General Motors selling over 100,000 vehicles that get at least 30 miles to a gallon. And sales of its Chevy Volt more than doubled from the month before.

The irony is that GM has temporarily stopped production of the Volt following earlier weak sales. And here's why the Volt wasn't flying out of the lots: The right-wing media had launched an outrageous smear campaign against it. As former GM executive Bob Lutz sarcastically put it, the Volt had become "the poster child for President Obama's socialist meddling in the free automotive market."

Lutz responded with special anger to a recent Bill O'Reilly Fox News show in which the host condemned the Volt as "an unmitigated disaster." Joshing over the disappointing Volt sales, O'Reilly's guest Lou Dobbs said, "It doesn't work." Also, "It catches fire."

None of this happens to be true. The European-market Volt worked well enough to be named the European Car of the Year. The "catching fire" claim is pure fiction, Lutz said, based on battery tests "under extremely destructive experimental conditions." Two of the three batteries involved weren't even in a car. No Volt has ever caught fire in an accident on a public road, he added, while between 2003 and 2007, some 278,000 gasoline-powered cars did.

Sadly, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has lowered himself by catering to feverish right-wing fantasies. He softened the rhetoric a bit by advancing the myth that an already weak General Motors and Chrysler could have survived in bankruptcy reorganization without government help. Most economists deemed that scenario impossible at a time of economic meltdown, when nearly all lending had stopped. And who would buy a car from a bankrupt company not backed by the government?

Judging from past writings on energy policy, Romney probably subscribes to a Bush-like belief that government has a role in helping Americans reduce their oil consumption. But he did join the anti-Volt pile-on last week. Using past tense he commented, "I'm not sure America was ready for the Chevy Volt." Then he wished it well.

What weird brand of politics revels at the prospect of plowing under a U.S. product so innovative that the Chinese are demanding its engineering secrets? It's a politics that ignores the huge subsidies that other governments, including China's, are pouring into energy technology. It's a politics that seems to blindly hate organized labor -- even after the autoworkers had accepted enormous cuts in their numbers and compensation to keep the car companies afloat. It's a politics that went goofy over Chrysler's Super Bowl ad in which Clint Eastwood announced, "It's halftime in America." Without evidence, some heard a thinly veiled call for a second Obama administration.

Exactly whose side are these people on? If these self-styled patriots want to keep waving the flag, fine. But it should be a white flag, not the American one.

LOAD-DATE: April 10, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

2 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 10, 2012 Tuesday 11:18 PM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 2914 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Phil Gast - 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

Florida-Teen-Shooting (will update)

Attorneys for neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who authorities say fatally shot an unarmed teenager in Florida, said Tuesday they have lost contact with their client and will no longer represent him.

Colombia-Americas-Summit

Colombian police are stepping up security in the colonial coastal city of Cartagena, where dozens of heads of state and government are scheduled to meet this weekend in a regional summit. Authorities are planning to deploy 7,680 police officers during the Summit of the Americas. Anti-explosive robots and radiation detectors are also part of the security detail.

Maryland-Same-Sex-Divorce

Maryland's highest court is set to decide whether a lesbian couple seeking a divorce can do so in a state that doesn't yet grant same-sex marriages.

POL-Campaign-Wrap

Conservative challenger Rick Santorum announced Tuesday that he is suspending his Republican presidential campaign after a weekend of "prayer and thought," effectively ceding the GOP nomination to front-runner Mitt Romney.

US-Guatemala-Kingpin

The U.S. Treasury Department added a Guatemalan man to its drug kingpin list Tuesday, describing him as a "critical link in the drug trade between Colombian producers and the violent Mexican drug cartel Los Zetas." The Treasury's designation of Horst Walter Overdick Mejia as a narcotics trafficker freezes any assets he may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits financial and commercial transactions with him. Guatemalan authorities arrested Overdick earlier this month. Last week, federal prosecutors in New York unsealed an indictment of Overdick on drug trafficking and weapons charges.

ENT-California-Latino-Producers

Independent Latino producers of documentaries and feature films gather in Los Angeles later this week to draw attention to improving Latino representation in front of and behind the camera. The National Association of Latino Independent Producers has grown since 1999 when it was a just a couple of hundred of film makers is now a formal group with 10,000 subscribers to its newsletter about the state of media for Latino producers.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

TOP STORIES

POL-Campaign-Wrap

Florida-Marlins-Castro

Ozzie Guillen's remarks on Fidel Castro may be constitutionally protected, but he has learned there is nothing shielding him from the ire of Miami's large Cuban community.

Syria-Unrest

Kofi Annan, the United Nations-Arab League envoy to Syria, told the U.N. Security Council that he was "gravely concerned at the course of events" after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad failed to withdraw troops from cities and towns by Tuesday's self-imposed deadline.

Oklahoma-Shootings

The suspects in the shootings of five African-Americans in Tulsa, Oklahoma, confessed shortly after their arrest, according to police documents.

California-Charles-Manson

When the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation holds a parole hearing for notorious murderer Charles Manson on Wednesday, he will be represented by state-appointed attorney DeJon R. Lewis who will urge the state to put Manson in a mental hospital, Lewis told CNN.Manson, 77, and Lewis, a 45-year-old attorney who was just a boy at the time of the "Manson family" killings in 1969, haven't yet met. In fact, it is unclear whether Manson will attend his parole hearing.

INTERNATIONAL

Italy-Cruise-Ship-Captain

Italy's highest court ruled Tuesday that the captain of the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship must remain under house arrest while he is investigated for possible criminal charges.

Syria-Unrest

China-Party-Official

The wife of a controversial Chinese leader and a family aide have been arrested in connection with the death of a British businessman, Chinese state media announced Tuesday.

UK-Terror-Suspects

The European Court of Human Rights ruled against five terror suspects Tuesday saying that they can be extradited to America despite their claims that they will be poorly treated.

North-Korea-Rocket-Launch

North Korea said the assembly of the satellite and rocket it plans to launch within the next week should be completed Tuesday, setting the stage for a move that has been widely criticized by other nations.

US-North-Korea

As North Korea prepares to commemorate the 100th birthday of its late founder Kim Il Sung with the launch of a satellite into orbit, the U.S. is already bracing for even more drama the day after.

Belgium-Brussels-Transport-Strike

Public transport in the Belgian capital, Brussels, was paralyzed for a fourth day Tuesday after staff walked out to protest the death of a co-worker in an assault.

Norway-Breivik

A man accused of killing 77 people in a bomb and gun rampage in Norway last summer was sane at the time of the alleged crimes, two court-appointed psychiatric experts said in a report released Tuesday.

Myanmar-Britain-Cameron

Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain will visit Myanmar on Friday, a week after pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party won dozens of seats at elections in the Southeast Asian country.

Afghanistan-Unrest

The Taliban claimed responsibility Tuesday for two suicide attacks on government facilities in Afghanistan that killed at least 18 people and wounded 27 others.

China-Activist-Sentence

A Chinese court on Tuesday sentenced a disabled lawyer who defended tenants' rights to more than two years in jail for "picking quarrels and making trouble," a local human rights advocacy group said.

SPORT-Motorsport-Bahrain-F1-Zayani-Ecclestone

Bahrain Grand Prix organizers insisted Tuesday that the Formula One race scheduled for the gulf kingdom later this month should go ahead despite mounting pressure for it to be scrapped.

U.S.A.

GSA-Fallout

The General Services Administration has suspended an employee award program cited by congressional investigators for exceeding spending limits, the acting head of the agency said Tuesday.

US-New-York-Bride-Cancer-Fraud

A New York woman is facing multiple fraud and larceny charges for allegedly pretending she had terminal cancer to get thousands of dollars from sympathetic donors to pay for an over-the-top wedding and honeymoon, according to a court statement released Tuesday.

Florida-Teen-Shooting-Prosecutor

Angela Corey, the state attorney overseeing the probe into the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin is known in Florida as a tough prosecutor ready to pursue what she believes is right, even in the face of media glare and public pressure.

Florida-Marlins-Castro (will update)

Ozzie Guillen's remarks on Fidel Castro may be constitutionally protected, but he has learned there is nothing shielding him from the ire of Miami's large Cuban community.

US-Air-Show-Crash-Findings

The pilot of the P-51 Mustang that crashed at the Reno Air Races last September experienced overwhelming g-forces at the outset of the incident, and likely was incapacitated almost instantly, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday.

California-Charles-Manson

US-Teacher-FBI-Top-10

A former private school teacher and camp counselor facing child pornography charges was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list Tuesday.

US-Terrorism-Trial

The chief judge for the Guantanamo Bay military commissions has assigned himself to preside over the trial of alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammad and four other men. Army Col. James Pohl will preside over the arraignment of the five suspected terrorists beginning on May 5.

Washington-School-Bus-Emergency

A Washington school district is hailing a middle-school student as a hero after he guided a school bus to a stop when the driver slumped in his seat.

MED-Teen-Birth-Rate-Record-Low

The teenage birth rate in the United States has fallen to a record low in the seven decades since such statistics were last collected.

Maryland-Lottery-Winner

They are public school employees who have been holding down multiple jobs. Now that they've won tens of millions of dollars in a historic lottery, they could stop. But instead, the self-declared "Three Amigos," who share a winning Mega Millions ticket, plan to keep their fortune a secret -- and keep working.

Miss-Universe-Transgender

The Miss Universe organization announced Tuesday it is ending its ban on transgender contestants after coming under scrutiny recently when a Canadian competitor was told she would be disqualified because she was born male.

US-Marine-Obama

A Marine facing discharge over criticism of President Barack Obama on a Facebook page he administers will fight in military and civilian courts, his attorney said Tuesday.

US-Northeast-Brush-Fires

Firefighters continue to battle a series of brushfires raging on nearly 2,600 acres in the U.S. Northeast, which officials say were triggered by high winds and dry conditions. Parts of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have been issued warnings by the National Weather Service after a recent dry spell in the region.

MONEY-Stand-Your-Ground-Companies

Pressure is building on companies to cut ties with a group that has championed Florida's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law, now under scrutiny in the Trayvon Martin case.

Tech-Smart-Phone-Thefts

A rise in the theft of smart phones, cell phones and tablets across the country has prompted the wireless industry to take steps aimed at minimizing the usefulness of a stolen device.

MONEY-Best-Buy

Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn unexpectedly resigned Tuesday amid an investigation into his "personal conduct," the company acknowledged Tuesday, hours after the initial announcement of Dunn's departure.

MONEY-Yahoo

One week after cutting 2,000 employees -- about 14% of Yahoo's workforce -- CEO Scott Thompson unveiled an internal overhaul aimed at streamlining the sprawling Internet portal.

MONEY-Paul-Ryan-Tax-Reform

Paul Ryan, the Republican chairman of the House Budget Committee, says that since the Bush tax cuts are set to expire at the end of this year anyway, now would be a good time for Congress to pass comprehensive tax reform.

MONEY-Obama-Buffett-Rule

The White House on Tuesday laid out its case for the Buffett Rule, arguing that it would make the tax code fairer and make it harder for the very rich to lower their tax bills.

Illinois-Hudson-Murder-Trial

Jury selection in the trial of a man accused of killing relatives of actress and singer Jennifer Hudson wrapped up Tuesday.

Maryland-Beating

Onlookers laughed and did nothing to help as a man was beaten, stripped and robbed on the street in Baltimore. The attack, which police say happened on March 18 after St. Patrick's Day celebrations, was captured by at least two cameras. Video of it went viral.

POL-Clinton-Parody-Website

Hillary Clinton can often be found on the road checking her BlackBerry. When Moammar Gadhafi was caught by Libyan rebels last year, she was captured on tape receiving the news on her BlackBerry. Now, the new online sensation, "Texts from Hillary" Tumblr, imagines what the secretary of State is chatting about.

ELECTIONS 2012

POL-Santorum-Political-Obit

Rick Santorum suspended his campaign on Tuesday after it became increasingly unlikely he could tackle the obstacles standing in his way on the road to the GOP presidential nomination, according to a Santorum source.

POL-Campaign-Wrap

POL-Campaign-Suspending-Explainer

Rick Santorum announced Tuesday he was suspending his bid for the 2012 GOP nomination. Below is a primer on what candidates mean when they say they're 'suspending' their campaigns. "Suspending" vs. Dropping Out - What's the Difference?

POL-Republicans-Reax-Santorum

Leading Republicans responded to news of Rick Santorum suspending his presidential campaign Tuesday, mostly praising the candidate for making the decision that essentially clears the way for Mitt Romney to soon clinch the GOP nomination.

POL-Pennsylvania-Senator-Endorses-Romney

Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania threw his weight behind Mitt Romney on Tuesday, two weeks ahead of the state's presidential primary.

POL-Crossroads-Anti-Obama-Ad

A conservative political action committee on Tuesday announced plans to spend $1.7 million in a half-dozen battleground states criticizing President Barack Obama's energy policy.

POL-Ron-Paul-Ad

The GOP nomination may appear to be in Mitt Romney's reach, but Texas Rep. Ron Paul isn't leaving the race without knocking his rivals at least one more time. In a new 30-second ad set to begin airing on cable in Texas Tuesday, Paul hits Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich as collectively unfit to go up against President Barack Obama in November's general election.

FEATURES, ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

FEA-Garbage-Pail-Kids-Book

Weapons, creepy critters and bodily fluids are timeless sources of inspiration for children's toys. But perhaps no franchise capitalized on all those themes better than "Garbage Pail Kids," the gross-out trading cards of the 1980s that parodied Cabbage Patch Kids. To many from that generation, they were the raddest cards your parents wouldn't let you have. Or, maybe you found ways to procure them on your own and became the coolest kid at the lunch table. Those kids are now adults, and the release of a book that compiles "Garbage Pail Kids" art allows fans to stroll down a blood-soaked, snot-infested memory lane -- one littered with pudgy limbs and heads that bear a disturbing resemblance to the wholesome Cabbage Patch dolls.

MED-Wallace-Depression

Since his death at age 93 Saturday, much has been written about hard-edged ex-"60 Minutes" reporter Mike Wallace's epic verbal battles with world leaders, swindlers and alleged crime bosses. But in 2005, Wallace made news of his own when he acknowledged his longtime war with depression -- a fight that nearly caused him to take his own life.

ENT-Djimon-Hounsou-African-Voices

From scavenging for food through garbage and sleeping in the streets, to becoming an international fashion model and a Hollywood A-lister, Djimon Hounsou's journey to stardom has been an astonishing one. The Benin-born actor, one of the most prominent film stars to come out of Africa, has appeared in blockbusters such as "Gladiator," "Amistad" and "Blood Diamond," and has worked with Hollywood royalty like Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio.

ENT-Ricki-Lake-Married

Ricki Lake has tied the knot with fiance Christian Evans, and the TV personality/actress is feeling the love.

ENT-Lindsay-Lohan-Complaint

Lindsay Lohan's had enough of people making false accusations about while she's trying to get her career back on track after five years of legal troubles, her publicist said Tuesday.

ENT-Madonna-Sales-Drop-Reports

Madonna had the biggest album debut of the year with her new offering, "MDNA," but the disc's second week sales may lead to a less flattering record. Forbes reports that her latest is on track to have the biggest second-week drop in chart history.

MED-Brain-Tumors-Dental-X-Rays

A study published this week in the journal Cancer shows that people who have had dental X-rays are more likely to develop a type of brain tumor called meningioma than those who have not. This does not prove that X-rays cause tumors, but supports previous research about the connection. Dental X-rays have also been implicated in thyroid cancer.

TRAVEL-Titanic-Last-Dive

For Titanic enthusiasts, it's a last chance to glimpse the famous cruise liner in its final resting place, a full 100 years after the vessel's tragic demise. A series of expeditions by marine dive specialists Deep Ocean Expeditions (DOE) will take paying tourists to the wreck site 12,000 feet below the surface of the North Atlantic Ocean in early July.

TECH-Photo-Apps-Instagram

Facebook's billion-dollar purchase of Instagram this week may have been the first time that many Facebookers heard of the tech-world darling, which lets users turn their phone photos into sleek-looking, stylized images with a single touch.

SPORT-Freedom-Baseball

A growing number of Major League Baseball players are coming together to make every pitch, home run and strikeout count in the fight against child trafficking.

SPORT-Golf-Bubba-Watson-Internet-Sensation

If you thought golf was the stuffy reserve of mild-mannered gentlemen in polo shirts, think again. From Santa Claus outfits to leaping into jacuzzis and even smashing lettuce heads to smithereens, there's no antic too crazy for new Masters champion Bubba Watson.

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The Outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

3 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 10, 2012 Tuesday 6:35 PM EST

Santorum to suspend campaign

BYLINE: By Tom Cohen, CNN

LENGTH: 1018 words

DATELINE: WASHINGTON (CNN)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rick Santorum announced Tuesday that he is suspending his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination after a weekend of "prayer and thought."

The development means that Mitt Romney is now the certain GOP nominee to take on President Barack Obama in November, as Santorum was his main challenger. While Romney still needs to win several hundred delegates to clinch the nomination, Santorum's departure from the race leaves his path unhindered.

Santorum had canceled two events earlier Tuesday while adding an afternoon event that turned out to be his withdrawal announcement.

Hogan Gidley, the campaign's communications director, said the two morning events were canceled to allow Santorum and his wife, Karen, to "settle in at home" with 3-year-old daughter Isabella after her weekend hospitalization.

Known as Bella, the child was born with Trisomy 18, a serious chromosomal condition that interferes with development. Half of patients with the condition do not survive past the first week of life, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Campaign aides have acknowledged that the April 24 primary in Pennsylvania, the state he represented in Congress, was a must-win for Santorum's candidacy. But his once double-digit lead there slipped to single digits in a recent poll, and the cancellation of campaign events Monday and again on Tuesday morning stoked media speculation that Santorum might drop out in the face of front-runner Romney's commanding lead.

Meanwhile, a new poll Tuesday shows Romney trailing Obama in a head-to-head matchup, though voters remain split on which presidential contender is best equipped to handle the economy.

The survey, from Washington Post/ABC News, showed 51% of Americans would choose Obama if the election were held now, compared to 44% for Romney.

According to the polling data, Americans are divided on which candidate would best handle economic issues: Forty-seven percent favored Romney while 43% named Obama. When asked which man would be better at creating jobs, 46% named Obama and 43% said Romney. Both margins were within the poll's 3.5% sampling error.

Voters were less divided on other key issues. Fifty-three percent said Obama was best poised to handle international affairs, compared to 36% who said Romney. Conversely, when asked which man would do a better job of reducing the federal deficit, 51% said Romney and 38% said Obama.

In terms of likability, Obama held a clear advantage, with 64% of Americans polled saying the president was a more friendly and likable person, a nearly 2-to-1 advantage over Romney, who was at 26%.

The serious gender gap between the two candidates -- also seen in recent Gallup and CNN/ORC polls -- also appeared in the new poll. Obama had the support of 57% of women, compared to 38% who said they backed Romney, while the former Massachusetts governor had the backing of 52% of men, compared to 44% who backed Obama.

Among another important voting block, independents, the poll shows a much tighter race, with 48% backing Romney compared to 46% for Obama, also within the survey's sampling error.

Romney has used a huge advantage in money and organization to build his lead over Santorum and fellow challengers Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul. In particular, the Romney campaign and the super PAC supporting it have spent millions of dollars on negative ads in the run-up to major primary and caucus votes so far.

On Monday, though, Romney's campaign pulled a television ad hitting Santorum while the former senator from Pennsylvania tended to his daughter in the hospital.

The sharply negative ad, which was to begin airing in Pennsylvania, highlighted Santorum's 2006 re-election loss in the state.

Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul said the decision was made "out of deference to Sen. Santorum's decision to suspend his campaign for personal family reasons."

Despite Saul's use of the word "suspend," Santorum has not formally suspended his campaign.

Santorum is Romney's closest rival but still has less than half of his delegate total, with Gingrich and Paul trailing far behind. However, the primary races after April 24 include states with conservative and Christian evangelical voting blocs that have backed Santorum so far.

Both Santorum and Gingrich have resisted calls to end their races in the face of Romney's substantial lead.

However, Gingrich admitted Sunday that Romney was the likely nominee.

"I think you have to be realistic," Gingrich said on "Fox News Sunday." "Given the size of his organization, given the number of primaries he's won, he is far and away the most likely Republican nominee."

CNN's latest estimate of the GOP delegate tally shows Romney with 659, Santorum with 275, Gingrich with 140 and Paul with 71. It takes 1,144 delegates to clinch the nomination.

New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Delaware vote on April 24, in addition to Pennsylvania. In all, 231 delegates are up for grabs in the five states.

Gingrich has said he will stay in the race until the Republican National Convention in August, despite running a distant third in the delegate count. The goal for both Gingrich and Santorum at this point appears to be preventing Romney from reaching the 1,144-delegate threshold before the convention.

While all but conceding the GOP race, Gingrich said Sunday he won't give up on trying to influence the party's platform that emerges going into the general election.

"I think platforms matter in the long run in the evolution of the party," the former House speaker said. "And the party is more than just a presidential candidate -- it's Senate candidates, House candidates, state legislators."

Gingrich also said he has already talked to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus about working in the fall "to help defeat Obama any way I could -- whatever the team thinks I can do to be helpful, I would do."

Beyond that, he said he wouldn't want to serve in a Romney administration and would rather "go back to a post-political career."

CNN's Kevin Liptak, John King, Peter Hamby, Shannon Travis and Steve Brusk contributed to this report.

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

5 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 10, 2012 Tuesday 3:11 PM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 2194 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editors Mark Bixler and Sarah Aarthun - 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

Syria-Unrest (will update)

Syrian forces pounded cities across the nation, opposition activists said, as a deadline for a troop withdrawal passed Tuesday and blighted the chances of success for a United Nations-backed peace plan.

ENT-Lindsay-Lohan-Complaint

Lindsay Lohan wants the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department to investigate the woman who accuses her of shoving her at a nightclub last week, Lohan's lawyer said Tuesday. The woman, whose name has not been made public, filed a report with the sheriff accusing Lohan of battery, but the actress insists she was not out clubbing last Thursday night.

Florida-Teen-Shooting (will update)

It was unclear Tuesday when a decision will be made on whether criminal charges will be filed against the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin to death.

POL-Campaign-Wrap (will update)

Rick Santorum adjusted his campaign schedule Tuesday following his young daughter's release from hospital the night before, canceling morning events in his home state of Pennsylvania while adding a later appearance in Gettysburg.

Florida-Marlins-Castro

The favorable comments that manager Ozzie Guillen of the Miami Marlins made about Fidel Castro struck a raw nerve in Miami, home to thousands of Cuban exiles who suffered under Castro. The team promptly suspended him for five games. The episode highlights the fine line that prominent business figures face when it comes to talking about Cuba in Miami. Sure, people like Guillen enjoy freedom of speech -- but they can alienate customers and pay a price in Miami's marketplace if they offer praise for Castro.

Oklahoma-Shootings (will update)

The suspects in the shootings of five African-Americans in Tulsa, Oklahoma, confessed shortly after their arrest, according to police documents.

Italy-Cruise-Ship-Captain (will update)

Italy's highest court is expected to rule Tuesday on whether the captain of the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship will remain under house arrest.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

TOP STORIES

Syria-Unrest

Oklahoma-Shootings

The suspects in the shootings of five African-Americans in Tulsa, Oklahoma, confessed shortly after their arrest, according to police documents.

INTERNATIONAL

UK-Terror-Suspects

The European Court of Human Rights ruled against five terror suspects Tuesday saying that they can be extradited to America despite their claims that they will be poorly treated.

North-Korea-Rocket-Launch

Belgium-Brussels-Transport-Strike

Public transport in the Belgian capital, Brussels, was paralyzed for a fourth day Tuesday after staff walked out to protest the death of a co-worker in an assault.

Syria-Unrest

A deadline for Syrian troops to withdraw from cities came and went Tuesday morning, with no reports of change in the year-long crisis that has killed thousands. An opposition activist in the besieged city of Homs said fresh shelling rained on two neighborhoods late Tuesday morning.

Norway-Breivik

Venezuela-Diplomat-Kidnapped

A Costa Rican diplomat kidnapped in Venezuela has been freed, Venezuela's minister for justice and the interior said Tuesday.

Peru-Miners

Peruvian officials hope that efforts to rescue nine miners trapped in a mine for days will pay dividends as early as Tuesday.

Myanmar-Britain-Cameron

Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain will visit Myanmar on Friday, a week after pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party won dozens of seats at elections in the Southeast Asian country.

Afghanistan-Unrest

Suicide attacks on government facilities in western and southern Afghanistan Tuesday killed at least 22 people and wounded 23 others, authorities said. Many of the dead were police officers.

Bahrain-Hunger-Strike

Bahrain on Tuesday denied reports that a detained activist on a hunger strike has serious medical problems, saying he is taking fluids orally and intravenously.

China-Activist-Sentence

A Chinese court on Tuesday sentenced a disabled lawyer who defended tenants' rights to more than two years in jail for "picking quarrels and making trouble," a local human rights advocacy group said.

US-North-Korea

As North Korea prepares to commemorate the 100th birthday of its late founder Kim Il Sung with the launch of a satellite into orbit, the US is already bracing for even more drama the day after.

Yemen-Violence

At least eight soldiers died and five others were injured when suspected Islamist militants attacked a military post in Yemen's eastern Mareb province early Tuesday, three security officials and a Defense Ministry official told CNN.

U.S.A.

MED-Teen-Birth-Rate-Record-Low

The teenage birth rate in the United States has fallen to a record low in the seven decades since such statistics were last collected.

Maryland-Lottery-Winner

Miss-Universe-Transgender

SPORT-Marlins-Suspend-Manager

The Miami Marlins have suspended Manager Ozzie Guillen for five games, effective immediately, the team said Tuesday.

US-Marine-Obama

A Marine facing discharge over criticism of President Barack Obama on a Facebook page he administers will fight in military and civilian courts, his attorney said Tuesday.

Oklahoma-Shootings

Syrian forces pounded cities across the nation, opposition activists said, as a United Nations-brokered deadline for troop withdrawal came and went Tuesday.

Florida-Teen-Shooting

It was unclear Tuesday when a decision will be made on whether criminal charges will be filed against the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin to death.

MONEY-Bush-Speech

Former President George W. Bush said Tuesday he wishes his name wasn't so firmly attached to one of his administration's signature pieces of legislation -- the broad-based tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year.

MONEY-Stocks

Investors remained nervous Tuesday with stocks ticking lower ahead of the unofficial start of earnings season. Worries about Europe bubbled back to the surface, as borrowing costs in Spain and Italy continue to move higher.

MONEY-Consumer-Bureau-Mortgages

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Tuesday that it's considering new rules aimed at mortgage servicers to help protect consumers against "costly surprises."

MONEY-Best-Buy

Best Buy announced Tuesday that CEO Brian Dunn had resigned from the electronics retailer.

MONEY-airline-seat-review-website

Booking an airline seat can be something of a lottery -- the losing of which can be the ruin of a long-haul flight. But popular seat-review websites are taking the gamble out of flying, allowing passengers to avoid drawing the short straw that could see them trapped for hours in a seat with cramped leg room, or surrounded by queues for the bathroom.

MONEY-Obama-Buffett-Rule

The White House on Tuesday laid out its case for the Buffett Rule, arguing that it would make the tax code fairer and make it harder for the very rich to lower their tax bills. President Obama is set to make the case himself in a speech Tuesday in Florida.

MONEY-Refineries-Gas-Prices

While gas prices soar to record levels, many U.S. refineries that make and sell gasoline are going broke.

MONEY-Consumer-Bureau-Mortgages

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will announce Tuesday that it's considering new rules aimed at mortgage servicers to help protect consumers against "costly surprises." The bureau's new rules will require servicers to issue mortgage statements that are more clear, as well as better disclosures about any fees or changes in a loan's interest rate.

Illinois-Hudson-Murder-Trial

Jury selection continues Tuesday in the murder trial of the man charged in the deaths of singer Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew more than three years ago.

Maryland-Beating

ELECTIONS 2012

POL-Campaign-Wrap

POL-Ron-Paul-Ad

POL-Wisconsin-Ad

Democratic Wisconsin gubernatorial hopeful Kathleen Falk released her first ad Tuesday documenting her background as a Wisconsin native and job creator.

POL-Obama-Romney-Poll

The latest poll pitting President Barack Obama against his likely GOP opponent Mitt Romney shows the president topping his GOP rival in a head-to-head matchup, though voters remain split on which presidential contender is best equipped to handle the economy.

FEATURES, ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

FEA-Garbage-Pail-Kids-Book

TRAVEL-Beijing-Hidden-Culture

Beijing is a city where history and culture are almost tangible. They sprout, grow and bloom in unexpected places, around glittering new skyscrapers, in subway tunnels and in parks. And yet, despite their prevalence, history and culture in Beijing always seem to be teetering on the verge of extinction.

MED-Wallace-Depression

ENT-Djimon-Hounsou-African-Voices

Anne-Sophia-Pic

French gastronomy is a male-dominated world, and its centuries-old traditions are fiercely protected. So, although Anne-Sophie Pic is the daughter and granddaughter of Michelin-starred chefs, it was not always clear she would continue the family tradition.

MED-Brain-Tumors-Dental-X-Rays

TRAVEL-Titanic-Last-Dive

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The Outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

7 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 10, 2012 Tuesday 1:57 PM EST

Ron Paul hits home state's airwaves

BYLINE: By Kevin Liptak, CNN

LENGTH: 348 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- The GOP nomination may appear to be in Mitt Romney's reach, but Texas Rep. Ron Paul isn't leaving the race without knocking his rivals at least one more time.

In a new 30-second ad set to begin airing on cable in Texas Tuesday, Paul hits Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich as collectively unfit to go up against President Barack Obama in November's general election.

The ad, called "Vote Texas," begins with an announcer laying out the options for Republicans: "Let's get this straight. We're debating between a big spending, debt ceiling raising fiscal liberal, a moon colony guy, a moderate from Massachusetts or a Texan with a real plan to balance the budget."

The slam against Gingrich - that he's the "moon colony guy" - comes with a "Photoshopped" image of the former House speaker in a space suit, floating around the moon.

The announcer continues, pushing Paul's platform of reigning in spending and slashing the federal debt.

"Get with it people, only one candidate will stand up for Texas. Ron Paul isn't playing games. Five federal bureaucracies gone. A trillion dollars cut, year one. Get Washington off your back," the announcer says before labeling the candidate a "big, bold Texan."

The assertion that Paul "isn't playing games" is supplemented with an image of an Etch A Sketch, a reference to a March remark from a Romney campaign aide that the GOP frontrunner would shift focus in the general election.

In a statement accompanying the ad's release, Paul's National Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton said the buy was indication of how important Texas was in selecting the GOP nominee.

"Texas has 152 delegates up for grabs on May 29th, keeping the race for the Republican nomination open," Benton said. "Ron Paul is competing hard in his home state of Texas, and we expect that Texas conservatives will reject flip-flopping Massachusetts moderate Mitt Romney and the debt ceiling raising fiscal liberal Rick Santorum."

Paul currently represents Texas' 14th Congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, and has represented the state on and off since 1975.

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

8 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 10, 2012 Tuesday 7:11 AM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 3199 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Ed Payne - 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

Myanmar Britain Cameron (3:15 a.m.)

Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain will visit Myanmar on Friday, a week after pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party won dozens of seats at elections in the Southeast Asian country.

Maryland-Lottery-Winner (3:45 a.m.)

Maryland Lottery officials plan a news conference Tuesday, a day after announcing that the holder of one of three winning tickets in a drawing for the Mega Millions has come forward.

Afghanistan-Unrest (4 a.m.)

A suicide bombing outside a district administrator's office in western Afghanistan killed 14 people and wounded 13 others, police said. The attack took place in the Guzara district of Herat province.

US-Wildfires (5 a.m.)

Extreme wind and dry conditions caused an alarming number of brush fires to spark up in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania on Monday, and firefighters will continue to fight blazes throughout the night, according to fire officials.

Miss-Universe-Transgender (HFR 9 a.m.)

Miss Universe owner Donald Trump is taking a swipe at lawyer Gloria Allred in their highly personal public relations battle over allowing transgender competitors in his beauty pageants.

Trump's organization announced Tuesday morning it is ending its rule banning transgender women from competing, but officials insists the change is in spite of, not because of, legal threats from Allred.

Syria-Unrest (will update)

Florida-Teen-Shooting (monitoring)

Now that the grand jury that was scheduled to convene Tuesday in the Trayvon Martin case has been canceled many are wondering when a decision will be made. The special prosecutor assigned to oversee the investigation, Angela Corey, announced Monday that she would not present the controversial shooting case to a grand jury.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

TOP STORIES

Syria-Unrest

Oklahoma-Shootings

Prosecutors will review whether hate crime charges are appropriate against Jake England and Alvin Watts, the men accused of shooting five African-Americans early Friday, District Attorney Tim Harris said Monday.

Florida-Teen-Shooting

MONEY-Facebook-Acquires-Instagram

Facebook has agreed to buy photo sharing network Instagram for $1 billion in a combination of cash and stock, the company announced Monday.

INTERNATIONAL

Bahrain-Hunger-Strike

The United Nations is urging Bahrain to consider transferring a detained activist to Denmark for treatment as his hunger strike enters its 62nd day Tuesday.. Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who holds Danish citizenship, is serving a life sentence for his role in anti-government protests that continue to roil Bahrain. Sunday marked a year since his arrest.

China-Activist-Sentence

A Chinese court on Tuesday sentenced a disabled lawyer who defended tenants' rights to more than two years in jail for "picking quarrels and making trouble," a local human rights advocacy group said.

US-North-Korea

As North Korea prepares to commemorate the 100th birthday of its late founder Kim Il Sung with the launch of a satellite into orbit, the US is already bracing for even more drama the day after.

POL-US-Brazil-Presidents

President Barack Obama and visiting Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Monday stressed the importance of strong ties between their countries, despite Brazil's concerns about U.S. economic policies that it says can work against emerging economies.

Egypt-Presidential-Candidates

A Muslim Brotherhood candidate for next month's presidential elections here lashed out Monday at the 11th-hour entrance into the race by Omar Suleiman, the former spy chief to deposed strongman Hosni Mubarak.

Venezuela-Diplomat-Kidnapped

Authorities are investigating the kidnapping of a Costa Rican diplomat in Venezuela, officials said Monday.

Iran-Nuclear-Talks

Nuclear talks will resume this week in Turkey between Iran and six world powers, the U.N. nuclear watchdog reported Monday.

Yemen-Attack

Al Qaeda militants seized control of a military base and two checkpoints during raids in southern Yemen on Monday in which at least 30 people died, security officials and residents said.

North-Korea-Launch

North Korea is planning a nuclear test in the area where it has staged previous atomic blasts, according to a report from South Korean intelligence officials obtained by CNN.

North-Korea-Grant-Trip

A first-person account by CNN reporter Stan Grant to the site of North Korea's planned rocket launch.

South-Korea-Police-Resignation

South Korea's national police chief resigned Monday amid criticism over authorities' handling of an emergency call from a woman who was later found murdered.

Syria-Executions-Report

Syrian security forces have summarily executed at least 101 people, including civilians, since late 2011 in attacks on cities and towns, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Monday.

Pakistan-Avalanche

A U.S. team was at work Monday at a Himalayan military outpost in Pakistan, joining the search for as many as 139 people buried in a massive avalanche.

Spain-Iberia-Pilots-Strike

Pilots for the Spanish airline Iberia resumed their strikes on Monday, forcing the cancellation of 124 flights, in a grievance over the company's new low-cost carrier, Iberia Express.

Camel-Milk-Dubai

In a Dubai café, patrons sip camel-milk lattes, camel-ccinos and shakes made with camel milk. The newly opened Cafe2Go is one of the first to put camel milk on its menu and it seems to be passing the taste test with intrigued customers.

Beirut-Wonder-Forest

The legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the inspiration behind an ambitious plan to grow a rooftop forest high above Beirut's crowded streets.

MONEY-World-Bank

The World Bank will choose its next president in one week, and for the first time ever, it's got a competition on its hands.

MONEY-China-Inflation

Chinese consumers continue to pay the price for economic prosperity, in the form of inflation for pork, alcohol, traditional medicine and other products, the government reported Monday.

SPORT-chelsea-lampard-fulham-premier

Chelsea still have work to do if they are to qualify for next season's Champions League after dropping points in a 1-1 draw at Fulham in the English Premier League on Monday night.

U.S.A.

Illinois-Hudson-Murder-Trial

Jury selection continues Tuesday in the murder trial of the man charged in the deaths of singer Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew more than three years ago.

Maryland-Lottery-Winner

The holder of one of three winning tickets in a record $656 million Mega Millions drawing has come forward to claim a share, Maryland Lottery officials said Monday.

Maryland-Beating

Virginia-Plane-Crash

Emergency calls highlight the confusion in a Virginia Beach, Virginia, neighborhood after a Navy fighter jet crashed last week, with one woman reporting that a pilot was on her patio awaiting medical aid.

Illinois-Hudson-Murder-Trial

More than three years after actress and singer Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were killed, jury selection began Monday in the murder trial of the man charged in their deaths.

Michigan-Nuclear-Plant

A troubled Michigan nuclear power plant cited for safety violations has been taken off line for maintenance and refueling, the plant's owner said Monday.

Pennsylvania-University-Threats

The University of Pittsburgh heightened security Monday while school and federal officials continued to investigate bomb threats made against the campus.

Pennsylvania-Firefighters-Killed

Two Philadelphia firefighters died early Monday and three others were injured after a wall collapsed in a building that had been cited repeatedly for safety violations and was set to be sold at auction later this year, officials said.

Tulsa-Shootings-Hate-Crime

Police, officials and residents are horrified by the shooting deaths of three African-American men, allegedly by two white men, in a predominantly black area in Tulsa, Oklahoma. But authorities will not say whether they believe the shootings were a hate crime.

Arizona-Sheriff-Case

Federal officials fired a new warning shot Monday in the ongoing battle between the Obama Administration and local law enforcement in Maricopa County, Arizona.

US-Teen-Sex-Coercion

An Indiana man allegedly blackmailed teenaged boys into being his camera "slaves" by threatening to post their videos on gay porn websites, a criminal complaint said.

US-Weather-Record-Warm-March

March 2012 will go down as the warmest March in the United States since record-keeping began in 1895, NOAA said Monday.

SPORT-New-Orleans-Saints-Bounty

The National Football League announced Monday it will not overturn the penalty it previously imposed against the New Orleans Saints and members of its coaching staff for the team's bounty program.

SPORT-Golf-Masters-Bubba-Watson

First-time Masters champion Bubba Watson admits he's still learning to control his emotions after a miraculous win left him bawling on the green.

SPORT-tennis-serena-williams-charleston

American tennis star Serena Williams is hoping to keep up her blistering momentum after a landmark victory at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston --- the 40th WTA Tour title of her illustrious career.

TECH-google-popular-apple-poll

America's top technology companies have approval ratings that most politicians can only dream of, according to a new poll. And Google, not Apple, is the ultimate object of our digital affection. A robust 82% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Google, and 53% have "strongly favorable" thoughts about the Web titan, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released last last week.

MED-Autism-Obesity-Study

A mother's weight and diabetic condition may increase the risk of her unborn child developing a neurodevelopmental disorder, such as autism, according to a new study published in this week's journal Pediatrics.

MED-Genetic-Child-Obesity

Researchers have identified two genetic variations that appear to increase the risk of childhood obesity, according to a new study.

MONEY-Buffett-Rule

President Obama on Tuesday will continue to beat the drum for the Buffett Rule, his campaign-ready tax proposal aimed at millionaires and billionaires.

MONEY-Mortgages-Principal-Reduction

The world will only have to wait a few more weeks to find out whether Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will allow principal reductions on mortgages they back. The Federal Housing Finance Agency will decide this month whether Fannie and Freddie should allow write downs on the balances of borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth, said Ed DeMarco, acting director for the agency.

ELECTIONS 2012

POL-Campaign-Wrap

Mitt Romney's presidential campaign said Monday it was pulling a television ad hitting rival Rick Santorum while Santorum tends to his young daughter Isabella, who was admitted to a hospital Friday.

POL-Poll-Romney-Nominee

A new poll released Monday shows further evidence that Republicans have circled around Mitt Romney as their party's presumptive nominee.

POL-Romney-Tone-Deaf

It's not the way most Americans spent Easter weekend, but then again, most Americans aren't Mitt Romney. And that's the potential problem that will be leveraged against him in the battle for the White House. The former Massachusetts governor and likely Republican presidential nominee spent the past few days with his family at his beach house in expensive and exclusive La Jolla, California. That's the same three-bedroom home, purchased for $12 million four years ago, that has made headlines over the past couple of years after reports of plans for a major remodeling and expansion.

POL-Romney-Huckabee-Interview

Mitt Romney, making a post-Easter appearance on the radio show of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, said he was in touch with rival Newt Gingrich more often than Rick Santorum, despite Santorum's advantage in the delegate count.

POL-Romney-Pulls-Ad

Mitt Romney's presidential campaign said Monday they were pulling a television ad hitting rival Rick Santorum while the former senator tends to his young daughter, who was admitted to a hospital Friday.

POL-Santorum-Daughter-Health

Rick Santorum's daughter Bella is expected to be released from the hospital on Monday, spokesperson Hogan Gidley confirmed to CNN.

MED-santorum-daughter-health

Former Sen. Rick Santorum's daughter Isabella is expected to be released from the hospital Monday, a spokesman tells CNN. The GOP presidential candidate interrupted his campaign Friday, when his 3-year-old girl was hospitalized for reasons the campaign did not disclose. Isabella suffers from a chromosomal disorder called Trisomy 18, where extra genetic material is present on chromosome 18. The extra material interferes with normal development, according to the National Institutes of Health.

POL-NRA-Lugar-Ads

A tough battle for Indiana's Republican Senate nomination got uglier Monday as the National Rifle Association began airing television ads blasting incumbent Sen. Richard Lugar for failing to uphold gun ownership rights.

POL-Warren-Massachusetts-Fundraising

Democratic Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren raised $6.9 million in the first quarter of 2012, more than doubling incumbent Republican Sen. Scott Brown's haul, according to her campaign.

FEATURES, ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

ENT-Alec-Baldwin-Stalking

A Canadian woman arrested by New York police Sunday night for allegedly stalking Alec Baldwin worked as a publicist for a movie the actor had a small role in a decade ago.

ENT-Lindsay-Lohan-Complaint

A woman filed a battery complaint against Lindsay Lohan on Saturday, accusing the actress of shoving her at a West Hollywood nightclub two nights earlier, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff's official.

ENT-Whitney-Houston-Funeral

It seems some Newark, New Jersey residents have a bone to pick with Whitney Houston's family. According to CNN affiliate CBS New York, the city's taxpayers aren't pleased with the more than $187,000 tab Newark picked up for police overtime during Houston's funeral there in February.

ENT-SNL-Skit-Andy-Cohen

"Saturday Night Live" returned this weekend after a hiatus with none other than Sofia Vergara as host. She'd already proved she had comedic timing both on and off her ABC sitcom "Modern Family" - if you've ever seen her joke on the red carpet, you'll know that she's a natural - and she brought her talent to a number of skits, including one that poked fun at Bravo exec Andy Cohen.

ENT-Nicki-Minaj-NYC-Concert

Nicki Minaj pulled off an elaborate stunt over the weekend that still has New Yorkers talking. The petite rapper surprised Times Square pedestrians on Friday evening when she conducted an over-the-top three-song concert.

ENT-Tori-Spelling-QA

Tori Spelling regrets the fact that she's put acting on the backburner in recent years. At an event celebrating the release of her new book, "CelebraTORI," she told CNN, "I'm ready to make people laugh more."

MONEY-Second-Screens

It's an advertiser's dream: not one, but two screens to capture consumers' attention. Companies are jumping on the trend with apps to enhance the television experience -- and, of course, to sell more ads.

FEA-Baby-Boomer-Caregivers

Money was no object when the time came for Joan Lunden to find a senior care facility for her 88-year-old mother. For years, the former host of "Good Morning America" had been a long-distance caregiver to her mother and brother in California, providing them with emotional and financial support from New York. After her brother's death from complications from type II diabetes, Lunden needed to find a new home for her mother, who was suffering from the onset of dementia.

FEA-Dementia-Building-Relationships

On a recent late night in New Jersey, Adam Robb sat up with Dulcie Laurance, lulling her back to sleep. Robb's 92-year-old grandmother is one of an estimated 36 million people worldwide with dementia, according to 2010 data from Alzheimer's Disease International, and Robb is one of about 65.7 million people in the United States taking care of relatives with various conditions, including dementia.

FEA-comic-con-job-fair

How exactly does one make a documentary about an event that attracts hundreds of thousands to San Diego, with dozens of events going on at one time? "We had a 150-person crew over the course of filming," said director Morgan Spurlock ("Super Size Me"), who took on the challenge of shooting a movie about San Diego Comic-Con in 2010, his biggest film yet.

FEA-otaku-bedroom

A peek into an otaku's bedroom or living space can be a bit of a surprise for the average person. But it's not unusual for fans of anime and manga in Japan to decorate their small rooms even more elaborately. Otaku rooms can be covered in posters and pillows or shelves with hundreds of collectible figurines, all emblazoned with favorite anime or manga characters. Some fans make a point of collecting as much merchandise associated with the object of their affection as they can, and making sure it's all on display. It's a form of decorative expression that many otaku in the rest of the world have also adopted.

FEA-Whole-Hog-Cuba

Cubans may live surrounded by water but the food that incites the most passion and culinary debate does not swim or slither. That honor is reserved for puerco asado, pork cooked over coals in the traditional style of the Cuban countryside.

FEA-Chinese-Almond-Cookie-Day

Today, give your palate a sweet cleanse because April 9 is National Chinese Almond Cookie Day!

Tamara-Rojo-Fusion-Journey

Tamara Rojo is so often described as the greatest dance actress of her generation, it might possibly be true. Prima ballerina with London's prestigious Royal Ballet for over a decade, the Spaniard's presence on a cast list is guaranteed to fill any theater in London, New York or Paris. Her graceful adagio combinations and perfectly formed arabesques may have wowed audiences across the globe, but how would the 37-year-old fare when parachuted into a dance culture she'd never encountered?

TECH-Facebook-Kill-Instagram

Facebook's purchase on Monday of the photo-sharing app Instagram had the Internet asking one question: Will the Goliath of social networking make Instagram so uncool or so Facebook-y that it dies off entirely?

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The Outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

9 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

Daily News (New York)

April 10, 2012 Tuesday
SPORTS FINAL EDITION

MUSCLE UP! Bam's power play: Leads Mitt in poll

BYLINE: BY ALISON GENDAR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 20

LENGTH: 370 words

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S show of strength involved more than just his arms and chest Monday - he led GOP rival Mitt Romney in the latest survey of critical "swing" voters.

Obama dropped and did a few pushups as part of the White House's annual Easter Egg oll, an exercise-friendly event.

But the President's real prowess was shown in the latest poll that found him beating Romney, 44% to 38%, among independent voters in about a dozen swing states, according to a poll commissioned by the Democratic think tank Third Way. It was conducted in mid-March.

The irony, poll-watchers pointed out, was that many of these same independent voters who said they prefer Obama indicated they were ideologically more in sync with Romney.

Perhaps mindful of those numbers, Team Obama came out swinging Monday, determined to paint Romney as a multimillionaire who is out of touch with the struggles of the middle and working class.

Obama campaign manager Jim Messina trumpeted the need to pass a Senate bill that would boost the tax rate to at least 30% for anyone making $1 million or more. Currently, the rate can be lower than 15% for those who make their money through investments, so secretaries can pay a higher tax rate than their millionaire bosses.

Romney has defended his own lower tax rate for investment income - less than 15% - and was called out by Messina by name.

"It all goes back to one simple question: Why should Mitt Romney pay a lower tax rate than average Americans?" Messina asked in a conference call with reporters.

"Romney's a beneficiary of a broken tax system. He wants a system where firefighters, cops, teachers and middle-class Americans all pay a higher tax rate than he does."

Romney, meanwhile, pulled an ad attacking Rick Santorum as it was set to run in Pennsylvania because his conservative rival is away from the campaign trail while his daughter is in the hospital.

Bella Santorum, 3, suffers from a rare genetic disorder, and has already beaten the prognosis for those with the condition.

Romney's $2.9 million ad buy was intended to ask Pennsylvania voters why they would vote for their former senator for President when they voted him out of office in 2006 by nearly 20 percentage points.

agendar@nydailynews.com

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: President Obama does pushups during White House Easter Egg Roll at White House Monday. EPA

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

10 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

The New York Times

April 10, 2012 Tuesday
Late Edition - Final

A Shift in Strategy in Pennsylvania for Romney

BYLINE: By TRIP GABRIEL and KATHARINE Q. SEELYE; Trip Gabriel reported from New York, and Katharine Q. Seelye from Bedford, Pa.

SECTION: Section A; Column 0; National Desk; Pg. 14

LENGTH: 1024 words

Mitt Romney's attempt to pull off a victory in Rick Santorum's home state of Pennsylvania was all set to go into overdrive Monday with attack ads highlighting how voters there soundly rejected him in his 2006 Senate race.

But the aggressive tactics that have served Mr. Romney so well in other states faced an unexpected complication: the emergency hospitalization of Mr. Santorum's disabled daughter Bella, which prompted an outpouring of public sympathy.

The Romney camp abruptly pulled the ads on Monday morning. Bella, 3, who was born with a rare chromosomal disorder, was expected to return home soon to Virginia from the hospital, the Santorum campaign said. Her medical struggles, which in some ways have become the emotional centerpiece of Mr. Santorum's race, have the potential to complicate Mr. Romney's effort to quickly end the Republican nominating fight.

''The family has been humbled and overwhelmed by the amount of support they've received,'' said a spokesman for Mr. Santorum's campaign, Hogan Gidley, citing thousands of comments on the candidate's Facebook page and e-mailed ''prayer chains.''

Mr. Santorum's decision to cancel campaign events to be with his daughter after she was hospitalized on Friday with pneumonia -- her second bout since January -- intensified speculation that he would choose the moment to exit the race gracefully, as a chorus of Republican leaders have urged for the sake of party unity.

But Mr. Gidley doused that notion. Mr. Santorum planned to return to campaigning in the south-central Pennsylvania town of Bedford with a rally on Tuesday.

''The fact is, there is still a narrow path, but a path nonetheless, for Rick Santorum to become the nominee, and the Romney campaign knows it or they wouldn't be sending people all over Pennsylvania and Texas to prevent it,'' Mr. Gidley said.

The ad the Romney campaign pulled, after it ran at least 11 times in the Philadelphia media market, according to Kantar Media's campaign media analysis group, bluntly addressed Pennsylvania voters: ''We fired him as senator. Why promote him to president?''

The Romney campaign substituted a positive ad ''out of deference'' to Mr. Santorum, a spokeswoman, Andrea Saul, said.

Once Bella is released from the hospital, the Romney campaign is expected to put the anti-Santorum ad back into its rotation, although that could take a day or two. The Romney campaign has planned a $2.9 million barrage of advertising over the next two weeks in Pennsylvania, which Mr. Santorum has called a must-win contest, although polls show him losing ground.

Jim Roddey, chairman of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County, who has endorsed Mr. Romney, said the campaign probably would conduct polling to see whether Bella's hospitalization remained a sensitive issue. But, he said, sympathy for Bella would probably not bring Mr. Santorum any new votes, nor would it deter the Romney camp from full-throated attacks on Mr. Santorum.

''He's still not talking about the kinds of things most people are most concerned about, jobs and the economy.''

Bella, who was born with trisomy 18, a rare disorder that is fatal to most of children within their first year, has become a touchstone for Mr. Santorum, both humanizing him and serving as flashpoint for debate over health care with President Obama.

Mr. Santorum mentions her at almost every appearance, sometimes explaining that his wife is not at his side because she is home caring for her, and sometimes, especially in churches, telling of how when Bella was born, doctors sent her home to die because her disorder was ''incompatible with life.''

''It angered us to hear that,'' Mr. Santorum explains in a video on his campaign Web site. ''She was our daughter like every one of our children and we were not going to let her go.''

While many voters find Mr. Santorum's brand of social conservatism and his speaking style off-putting, it is clear at rallies that Bella softens him. Audiences listen raptly to his descriptions, sometimes wiping away tears.

Trisomy 18 results in stillbirth for about half the babies carried to term, and 90 percent of children die before their first birthday, said Dr. Robert Marion, chief of genetics and developmental medicine at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

After the first birthday the survival odds increase, he said, although pneumonia is a common cause of hospitalization because trisomy 18 children often have congenital heart diseases that cause fluid to build up in the lungs, causing infections. The condition has become rarer in the past 25 years, Dr. Marion said, ''because people are diagnosing it prenatally and terminating the pregnancies more often now.''

That is one of the reasons Mr. Santorum cites Bella in his campaign -- an embodiment of his respect for the sanctity of life and a reason he opposes Mr. Obama's health care overhaul. He opposes its requirement that insurance plans cover prenatal screenings, principally amniocentesis, which he said are used to ''cull'' fetuses with birth defects.

The procedures ''are done by and large to find out late in pregnancy whether the child in the womb has a disability,'' Mr. Santorum said in Ohio in February.

''And as we all know, 90 percent of Down syndrome children in this country are aborted once the mother and father find out that child is going to be less than what they were expecting.''

He also maintained that the 2010 health care law, because it was designed in part to slow runaway costs, would lead to ''a brave new world'' in which doctors are pressured to ration care, and disabled children like his daughter would be denied care.

Dr. Marion, whose program sees about 7,500 children a year with developmental disabilities, said most health insurance does not cover many services the children need and that currently ''the government has washed their hands'' and there is no public financing for them either.

''It's not a matter of these kids being squeezed because there's pressure on the person providing the care,'' he said. ''What happens is we're going to have to turn away some kids with trisomy 18 because there's nobody to pay for it.''

URL: http://www.nytimes.com

LOAD-DATE: April 10, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: PHOTOS: The plight of Rick Santorum's daughter Bella is central to his campaign. In January, a supporter in Iowa wore her picture on a pin. (PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDREW BURTON/GETTY IMAGES)
Mr. Santorum left the campaign trail temporarily last week. (PHOTOGRAPH BY JASON COHN/REUTERS)

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

11 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

States News Service

April 10, 2012 Tuesday

ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT RELEASES NEW WEB VIDEO: "PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS FAILED FLORIDA WORKERS"

BYLINE: States News Service

LENGTH: 369 words

DATELINE: BOSTON, MA

The following information was released by Mitt Romney for President:

Today, Romney for President released a new web video titled "President Obama Has Failed Florida Workers." Three years after promising to turn around the economy, it is clear that President Obama has failed to fix Florida's economy. 850,000 Floridians are out of work and the unemployment rate is at 9.4%.

To View "President Obama Has Failed Florida Workers," Please See: http://mi.tt/HzpDxn

AD FACTS: Script For "President Obama Has Failed Florida Workers" (Web Video)

VIDEO TEXT: "When Barack Obama Is In Florida Today"

VIDEO TEXT: "Ask Him About The Forgotten Millions"

VIDEO TEXT: "4.7 Million Americans Missing From Workforce"

Since January 2009, 4.7 Million Americans Are Missing From The Workforce. "March 2012 eligible population: 242.6 million. March 2012 participation rate: 63.8%. March 2012 labor force: 154.7 million. January 2009 participation rate: 65.7%. March 2012 labor force at January 2009 rate: 242.6 million. 65.7% = 159.4 million. 159.4 million (potential) - 154.7 million (actual) = 4.7 million missing." (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4/10/12)

VIDEO TEXT: "850,000 Floridians Out Of Work"

Over 850,000 People In Florida Are Unemployed. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4/10/12)

VIDEO TEXT: "9.4% Official Unemployment In Florida"

The Unemployment Rate In Florida For February 2012 Is 9.4% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4/10/12)

VIDEO TEXT: "Double Digit Minority Unemployment"

The Unemployment Rates For The African-American And Hispanic Or Latino Populations Are Above 10%. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4/10/12)

VIDEO TEXT: "Under Obama, A Record 6 Million Women Unemployed"

As Of April 2012, Nearly 6 Million Women Are Unemployed. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4/10/12)

VIDEO TEXT: "Shrinking Job Growth Dims Hopes"

The Palm Beach Post Headline: "Shrinking Job Growth Dims Hopes" (Emily Roach, "Shrinking Job Growth Dims Hopes," The Palm Beach Post, 4/6/12)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: "If I don't have this done in three years, then there's going to be a one-term proposition."

President Obama, In February 2009: "If I Don't Have This Done In Three Years, Then There's Going To Be A One-Term Proposition." (NBC's "Today," 2/2/09)

###

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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Tampa Bay Times

April 10, 2012 Tuesday
Politifact.com Edition

ROMNEY CAMPAIGN SAYS WOMEN WERE HIT HARD BY JOB LOSSES UNDER OBAMA

BYLINE: MOLLY MOORHEAD

SECTION: POLITIFACT.COM

LENGTH: 985 words

Women account for 92.3 percent of the jobs lost under Obama.

Mitt Romney on Friday, April 6th, 2012 in a tweet

* * *

THE RULING: MOSTLY FALSE

Mitt Romney's campaign wants you to know that the same president who argues for contraceptive coverage and suggests that a Congress with more female members would get more accomplished has also presided over disproportionate job losses among women.

On April 6, 2012, RomneyÍs press secretary Andrea Saul tweeted, "FACT: Women account for 92.3% of the jobs lost under @BarackObama, a claim also made on Romney's website.

She followed it up a few hours later with this: "@BarackObama touts policies for women & 92.3% jobs lost under him r women's. He's even more clueless than we thought."

When we asked for backup for the claim, the campaign cited national employment figures spanning four years. We found that though the numbers are accurate, their reading of them isnÍt.

ïTotal nonfarm payroll jobsÍ

RomneyÍs campaign pointed to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment figures from January 2009, when Obama took office, and March 2012, for all employees and for female employees.

Here they are:

* Total Nonfarm Payroll Jobs:

January 2009: 133,561,000

March 2012: 132,821,000

Net loss: 740,000 jobs.

* Total Female Nonfarm Payroll Jobs

January 2009: 66,122,000

March 2012: 65,439,000

Net loss: 683,000 jobs.

They then divided the net loss among women by the total net loss and came up with 92.3 percent.

Beyond the numbers

The first problem we find with SaulÍs tweet is that it begins counting job losses the first month Obama was in office. We have taken points off previous claims for blaming officeholders for situations that existed at the beginning of their administrations, before their policies have had time to take effect. One could reasonably argue that January 2009 employment figures are more a result of President George W. BushÍs policies, at least as far as any president can be blamed or credited for private-sector hiring.

We reached out to Gary Steinberg, spokesman for the BLS, for his take on the claim. He pointed out that womenÍs job losses are high for that period of time because millions of men had already lost their jobs. Women were next.

"Between January 2009 and March 2012 men lost 57,000 jobs, while women lost 683,000 jobs. This is the reverse of the recession period of December 2007-June 2009 (with an overlap of six months) which saw men lose 5,355,000 jobs and women lose 2,124,000 jobs," Steinberg told us in an email.

So timing was important. And if you count all those jobs lost beginning in 2007, women account for just 39.7 percent of the total.

Gary Burtless, a labor market expert with the Brookings Institution, explained the gender disparity.

"I think males were disproportionately hurt by employment losses in manufacturing and especially construction, which is particularly male-dominated. A lot of job losses in those two industries had already occurred before Obama took office," he said. "Industries where women are more likely to be employed ? education, health, the government ? fared better in terms of job loss. In fact, health and education employment continued to grow in the recession and in the subsequent recovery. Government employment only began to fall after the private economy (and private employment) began growing again."

Betsey Stevenson, a business and public policy professor at Princeton University, also pointed out that "in every recession menÍs job loss occurs first and most, with unemployment rates for men being more cyclical than those of womenÍs."

She added that many of women's job losses have been government jobs -- teachers and civil servants -- which have been slower to come back because they require greater government spending.

So have Obama's policies been especially bad for women?

Said Stevenson: "I donÍt think you could point to a single piece of evidence that the pattern of job loss: men first then women, is due to the presidentÍs policies. ItÍs a historical pattern that has held in previous recessions."

Our ruling

Romney's website said that women account for 92.3 percent of jobs lost under Obama.

By comparing job figures with January 2009 and March 2012 and weighing them against womenÍs job figures from the same periods, Saul came up with 92.3 percent. The numbers are accurate but quite misleading. First, Obama cannot be held entirely accountable for the employment picture on the day he took office, just as he could not be given credit if times had been booming. Second, by choosing figures from January 2009, months into the recession, the statement ignored the millions of jobs lost before then, when most of the job loss fell on men. In every recession, men are the first to take the hit, followed by women. It's a historical pattern, Stevenson told us, not an effect of Obama's policies.

There is a small amount of truth to the claim, but it ignores critical facts that would give a different impression. We rate it Mostly False.

* * *

About this statement:

Published: Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 at 7:11 p.m.

Subjects: Jobs, Women

Sources:

Associated Press, "Obama: Women are not an interest group," April 6, 2012

Andrea Saul, Romney press secretary, Twitter feed

Women & The Obama Economy, Mitt Romne website

Email interview with Gail Gitcho, Romney campaign spokeswoman, April 9, 2012

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment, Hours, and Earnings data for total nonfarm payroll jobs

Email interview with Gary Steinberg, spokesman for BLS, April 10, 2012

Email interview with Gary Burtless, Brookings Institution, April 10, 2012

Email interview with Betsey Stevenson, Princeton University, April 10, 2012

POLITICO, "Romney camp's claims about female job loss under Obama not so clear cut," April 6, 2012

PolitiFact, "NRCC ad says 1,500 jobs lost daily since President Barack Obama took office," Jan. 2, 2012

Written by: Molly Moorhead

Researched by: Molly Moorhead, Adam Offitzer

Edited by: Martha M. Hamilton

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

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Associated Press Online

April 10, 2012 Tuesday 9:04 PM GMT

Santorum suspends GOP presidential campaign

BYLINE: MARC LEVY, Associated Press

SECTION: DOMESTIC NEWS

LENGTH: 880 words

DATELINE: GETTYSBURG Pa.

Bowing to the inevitable after an improbably resilient run for the White House, Rick Santorum quit the presidential race on Tuesday, clearing the way for Mitt Romney to claim the Republican nomination.

"We made a decision over the weekend, that while this presidential race for us is over, for me, and we will suspend our campaign today, we are not done fighting," he said.

Santorum, appearing with his family, told supporters that the battle to defeat President Barack Obama would go on but pointedly made no mention or endorsement of Romney, whom he had derided as an unworthy standard-bearer for the GOP.

The former Pennsylvania senator stressed that he'd taken his presidential bid farther than anyone expected, calling his campaign "as improbable as any race that you will ever see for president."

"Against all odds," he said, "we won 11 states, millions of voters, millions of votes."

Santorum signaled his intent to maintain a voice in the campaign to come, saying: "This game is a long, long, long way from over. We will continue to go out and fight and defeat President Barack Obama."

Santorum spoke with Romney before the announcement, a Republican source close to the campaign said, and Romney asked to meet him sometime in the future

The delegate totals told the tale of Santorum's demise. Romney has more than twice as many delegates as Santorum and is on pace to reach the 1,144 delegates needed to clinch the nomination by early June. Still in the race, but not considered a factor: former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

Santorum had hoped to keep his campaign going through the Pennsylvania primary on April 24, but decided to fold after his severely ill 3-year-old daughter, Bella, spent the weekend in the hospital.

Santorum, a feisty campaigner who took everyone by surprise with his win in Iowa's leadoff caucuses, ran on his conservative credentials and his experience in Congress he was a House member for four years and senator for 12 but was hobbled by a lack of money and organization.

He said that while Romney was accumulating more delegates, "we were winning in a very different way. We were touching hearts" with a conservative message.

In a statement, Romney called Santorum "an able and worthy competitor" and congratulated him on his campaign.

"He has proven himself to be an important voice in our party and in the nation," Romney said. "We both recognize that what is most important is putting the failures of the last three years behind us and setting America back on the path to prosperity."

With Romney on his way to the nomination and a contest against the president, Obama's campaign manager, Jim Messina, sharply criticized Romney for waging a negative ad campaign against his opponents.

"It's no surprise that Mitt Romney finally was able to grind down his opponents under an avalanche of negative ads. But neither he nor his special interest allies will be able to buy the presidency with their negative attacks," Messina said. "The more the American people see of Mitt Romney, the less they like him and the less they trust him."

Santorum said the campaign had been "a love affair for me, going from state to state. ... We were raising issues, frankly, that a lot of people did not want raised."

He spoke almost nostalgically of the race, and of his trademark sweater vest, a pointed visual contrast to his suited rivals.

"Over and over again we were told, `Forget it. You can't win,'" he said.

Eventually, the improbable had to bow to reality: Santorum would have needed 80 percent of the remaining delegates to win the nomination before the party's national convention in Florida in August. And that couldn't happen as long as Romney was in the race because most upcoming primaries use some type of proportional system to award delegates, making it hard to win large numbers of delegates in individual states.

In most states, Santorum's delegates can now support any candidate they choose.

Gingrich, who has been splitting the votes of those who questioned Romney's conservative credentials with Santorum, made an immediate play for his supporters.

He said the former senator's campaign was "a testament to his tenacity and the power of conservative principles.

"I am committed to staying in this race all the way to Tampa so that the conservative movement has a real choice. I humbly ask Senator Santorum's supporters to visit Newt.org to review my conservative record and join us as we bring these values to Tampa."

Paul also congratulated Santorum for "running such a spirited campaign" and called himself "the last and real conservative alternative to Mitt Romney."

Suspending the campaign allows Santorum to keep paying off nearly $1 million in debt, according to recent Federal Election Commission filings. Those debts include about $500,000 for media consulting and tens of thousands more for telemarking and online advertising, records show.

Other presidential candidates have eventually extinguished their debt and terminated their campaigns. Former Minnesota Gov. Tom Pawlenty officially shuttered his campaign committee on Tuesday, owing as much as a half a million dollars last fall but slowly whittling that figure down.

Associated Press writers Kasie Hunt, Jack Gillum and Nancy Benac in Washington contributed to this report.

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The Associated Press

April 11, 2012 Wednesday 04:36 PM GMT

Obama-Romney showdown starts off with a harsh tone

BYLINE: By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press

SECTION: POLITICAL NEWS

LENGTH: 1037 words

DATELINE: MENDENHALL, Pa.

The 2012 presidential general election has begun. It won't be pretty.

Tuesday marked Day One, in essence, of the contest between the two virtually certain nominees, Republican Mitt Romney and Democratic President Barack Obama. Rick Santorum's departure removed the last meaningful bump from Romney's path to the GOP nomination. Romney and Obama wasted no time in portraying the voters' choice in dire, sometimes starkly personal terms.

"The campaign started yesterday, the general election campaign," Romney said Wednesday on Fox News when pressed on how he would counter continued Democratic attacks that he is an out-of-touch rich guy. "It's a little early in the process."

With Obama saddled with a still-ailing economy and a divisive health care law, and Romney riding a wave of blistering TV ads, the fall election is unlikely to dwell on "hope," "change" and other uplifting themes from four years ago. Much of the nation's ire then was aimed at departing President George W. Bush, and Obama had no extensive record to defend.

The landscape is much different now. Voters face nearly seven months of hard-hitting jabs and counterpunches between the two parties' standard-bearers.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor making his second presidential bid, now has to unify his party, build out a general election campaign and start answering big questions like who he will choose as a running mate. He insisted Wednesday that conservatives will unite behind him and said he believes Santorum will campaign with him against Obama. He also suggested he is considering one of his formal rivals for the presidential ticket.

"There's a large number of people in the Republican party who are extraordinary leaders, including some of those who have run in this last contest with me, and so we'll go through that list and decide who could potentially become a president if that were necessary," he told Fox News.

The presumptive nominee attacked Obama with gusto Tuesday in his two public events that followed Santorum's surprising announcement.

Campaigning in Pennsylvania, where an April 24 GOP primary is suddenly less important than its likely role as a battleground state this fall, Romney portrayed Obama as a weak leader who apologizes for America's greatness and prefers European-style socialism over robust free enterprise. Obama's allies call such claims nonsense.

"The right course for America is not to divide America," Romney told a GOP dinner gathering in Mendenhall, near Philadelphia. "That's what he's doing," he said of Obama. "His campaign is all about finding Americans to blame and attack, and find someone to tax more, someone who isn't giving, isn't paying their fair share."

He said Obama prefers "a government-centered society."

Obama, campaigning in Florida, said the choice in November will be as stark as in the 1964 contest between Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater, which resulted in one of the biggest Democratic landslides ever. That election included dramatic and controversial moments, such as Goldwater's defense of "extremism in the defense of liberty" and a devastating TV ad suggesting a Goldwater presidency would lead to nuclear war.

Obama didn't mention Romney by name. His top aides have shown less restraint, however.

The Obama campaign posted a YouTube video on Wednesday, the day after Santorum's withdrawal, noting that "as Republicans settle on a nominee," there are things voters should remember about the Romney campaign.

The presentation proceeds with video clips of a slew of Romney statements, including his pledge to see the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortions overturned, his statement that he'd rather see Detroit go bankrupt before backing a government bailout, his assertion that "corporations are people, my friend," and his declaration that he was an "extremely serious conservative" governor of Massachusetts.

Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said in a statement after Santorum's withdrawal: "It's no surprise that Mitt Romney finally was able to grind down his opponents under an avalanche of negative ads. But neither he nor his special interest allies will be able to buy the presidency with their negative attacks. The more the American people see of Mitt Romney, the less they like him."

Other Obama campaign officials have mocked Romney's wealth and called him out of touch with average Americans.

Romney and his allies, including a potent super political action committee, have proved their ability to raise millions of dollars to air brutally effective attack ads, which crippled Santorum and Newt Gingrich in the GOP primary contests. Obama will raise many millions, too, and few doubt that he will hit Romney hard.

The Republican super PAC Crossroads GPS is already on the air attacking Obama in six critical swing states. The group is spending $1.7 million to attack the president's energy record for a week in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia.

On Tuesday, Romney made clear that he will go after Obama's character as well as his record. In speeches in Mendenhall and Wilmington, Del., Romney said Obama isn't merely inept at economic policy, he actively dislikes business.

Obama "is clearly trying to hide from us what he intends to do," Romney said in Wilmington. "He's going to hide. And it's my job to seek."

Romney made similar remarks last month. Now, with Santorum off the stage and Gingrich and Ron Paul hardly a factor, there are no intra-party distractions to dilute such comments. Romney and Obama are fully engaged, one on one, at a much earlier stage than in 2008, when Obama had to parry Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton throughout the summer before fully turning to Republican John McCain.

Even then, Bush's unpopularity helped fuel Obama's campaign and deflected some of the anti-GOP sentiment away from the actual nominee.

This time, the incumbent president is on the ballot, with unemployment above 8 percent. The tea party, which didn't exist in 2008, is a potent and unpredictable force.

And Romney suddenly is free of meaningful primary worries. That leaves him able to focus the full force of his fundraising and campaigning skills against Obama.

Associated Press writer Kasie Hunt in Washington contributed to this report.

LOAD-DATE: April 12, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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The Associated Press

April 11, 2012 Wednesday 06:40 PM GMT

Ad blames Obama for high gas prices

BYLINE: By ANDREW MIGA and DINA CAPPIELLO, Associated Press

SECTION: POLITICAL NEWS

LENGTH: 671 words

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

TITLE: "Too Much"

LENGTH: 30 seconds.

AIRING: On broadcast and cable networks in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, and Virginia.

KEY IMAGES: The ad sponsored by Crossroads GPS, the nonprofit arm of a Republican super PAC, blames President Barack Obama for high gas prices and accuses him of pursuing policies that have decreased energy production. Crossroads GPS is the sister group of American Crossroads, a super PAC that has promised to raise millions to defeat Obama.

The ad opens with the words "President Obama's TV Claim" emblazoned across the screen and a narrator saying: "Under President Obama, oil production is at an 8-year high." A second narrator interjects, "Oh really? His own administration admits production is down where Obama's in charge," says a March 14 quote from the environmental and energy newsletter Greenwire: "Oil production fell by 14 percent ... on federal lands and waters."

"The real story," says the narrator. Then a clip from NBC's "Meet the Press" on March 25 shows host David Gregory saying to Obama senior adviser David Plouffe that a lot of the increase in production is due to decisions by former President George W. Bush, and that most of the production is on private lands.

"So you're taking credit for this boost in exploration, which is not really fair," says Gregory. "Taking credit for others' hard work," says the narrator. "Typical Washington. No matter how Obama spins it, gas costs too much."

A sign advertising regular gas at $4.99 per gallon fills the screen and the narrator urges viewers to tell Obama to stop blaming others and to work to pass better energy policies.

ANALYSIS: The ad is the latest broadcast salvo over high gasoline prices, a prime concern for voters as Mitt Romney cements his hold on the Republican presidential nomination and the general election contest against Obama begins to heat up. It is aimed at six states that are expected to be competitive in the election.

Republicans blame Obama for policies they claim are restricting U.S. oil production and pushing up energy costs. They also say he's taking credit for energy production increases that owe much to his Republican predecessor, Bush.

However, Obama's assertion that domestic oil production is at an eight-year-high is solid. In 2011, the U.S. produced more oil than any year since 2003, according to the federal Energy Information Administration. But much of that gain came from oil development on private lands, over which the federal government has little control, and which Obama can't take full credit for given the lag time between exploring for oil and actual production.

The ad's claim that oil production is down by 14 percent on federal lands where the government is in charge of leasing and permitting is correct. Oil production dropped by that amount from fiscal year 2010 to 2011, according to the energy information agency. Much of that decline was offshore, where the Obama administration put in place a moratorium on drilling after the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

But by using only the most recent year of data, the ad tells only part of the story. Oil and gas production goes up and down when discoveries are made. In some years there was less oil produced on federal lands under Bush than under Obama. In fact, oil production on federal lands onshore and offshore dropped 16.8 percent from 2003 to 2008 under Bush.

The ad's implication that the president has control over gas prices at the pump falls flat. A statistical analysis of 36 years of monthly, inflation-adjusted gasoline prices and U.S. domestic oil production by The Associated Press shows no statistical correlation between how much oil comes out of U.S. wells and the price at the pump.

That's because oil is a global commodity and U.S. production has only a tiny influence on supply. Factors far beyond the control of a nation or a president dictate the price of gasoline. And the ad's portrayal of a gas pump priced at $4.99 a gallon is misleading; the average price nationally as of Tuesday was $3.92.

LOAD-DATE: April 12, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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The Associated Press

April 11, 2012 Wednesday 10:30 PM GMT

Super PACs largely free to spend remaining cash

BYLINE: By JACK GILLUM, Associated Press

SECTION: POLITICAL NEWS

LENGTH: 692 words

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

When a presidential candidate throws in the towel, what can a "super" PAC that once supported the campaign spend its money on?

Pretty much anything it wants.

Until now, the super political action committee working in Rick Santorum's favor spent nearly all its cash more than $4.5 million on television ads for Santorum. But his departure from the GOP primaries leaves the Red, White and Blue Fund with a foggier mission.

The new phenomenon of super PACs this election cycle also has raised new questions about how, or whether, they should go out of business when their favored candidate bails out. Some have closed down, saying it wouldn't be right to spend donors' money on another cause or candidate.

For super PACs that outlast a presidential candidate, the rules governing them offer possibilities for future spending, including on issues or candidates that have nothing to do with the initial campaigns the PACs were formed to support. One of the few restrictions would be turning over any remaining cash to a campaign, which wouldn't be allowed. But campaign organizations can themselves be turned into new super PACs.

Robert Kelner, a campaign finance expert at the law firm Covington & Burling, said super PACs "can make ads to say, `vote for Romney' or `here are the 50 Republican House candidates we like.'"

"There are lots of possibilities," he said. "Still, ads are expensive."

Super PACs have proliferated this election cycle, thanks in part to federal court rulings that effectively stripped away campaign finance rules and allowed them to accept unlimited and effectively anonymous contributions from wealthy individuals, corporations and others.

Nearly every major presidential candidate had a super PAC in their corner. The Make Us Great Again PAC supported Texas Gov. Rick Perry's White House bid and, at one point, had planned to spend more than $50 million to help elect him. GOP front-runner Mitt Romney also has one it's called Restore Our Future and run by a former adviser that has spent at least $35 million on ads that have halted his rivals' momentum.

Still, the political committees rarely stockpile large amounts of cash because they spend it so quickly. Many times, they operate paycheck to paycheck. The group supporting Santorum spent roughly $500,000 per week in recent months even as financial reports showed it began March with less than that amount, or $364,000, in the bank. Sometimes, it waited until the 11th hour to decide to book a major ad in a new state, a strategic choice when looking at its balance sheets.

Many of the groups have major fundraisers, like Wyoming businessman Foster Friess, who has contributed $1.7 million to Red, White and Blue since last year. Friess told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he would now support Romney, suggesting he might not give more money to the group supporting Santorum.

The unchartered territory for super PACs has also created unusual situations. The Federal Election Commission granted a request by Perry to convert his presidential campaign into a super PAC.

The Red, White and Blue Fund has made no clear decision on what's next now that Santorum is out. In emails, it called Santorum a "great leader" and a "principled conservative," hinting that it would still support his causes by saying the fight goes on even as Santorum's campaign will not. Red, White and Blue Fund adviser Stuart Roy said the group has yet to make an announcement on the super PAC's future.

Dozens of other super PACs also are supporting Romney or at least opposing President Barack Obama. The largest of all Republican super PACs, American Crossroads, announced Tuesday that its sister organization would begin airing ads in six states hitting Obama on energy policy.

Obama has a super PAC, Priorities USA Action, that has raised $6 million to go after Republicans and help defend him from their attacks. The group had about $2.8 million on hand as of the end of February.

All told, super PACs have spent more than $55 million on the presidential race since last summer, at times eclipsing the ad spending of the very campaigns they support.

Follow Jack Gillum on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jackgillum

LOAD-DATE: April 12, 2012

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PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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CNN Wire

April 11, 2012 Wednesday 10:33 PM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 3397 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Maggie Leung - 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

Florida-Teen-Shooting (will update)

George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who says he was acting in self-defense when he fatally shot an unarmed teenager in Sanford, Florida, has been charged with second-degree murder, special prosecutor Angela Corey announced Wednesday.

Florida-Teen-Shooting-Timeline (will update)

Here's a look at the timeline of events in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, and the ensuing uproar.

California-Pepper-Spray-Protest (will update)

The pepper-spraying of student protesters at the University of California-Davis was an "objectively unreasonable" use of force by campus police, a state review of the incident concluded Wednesday.

Venezuela-Chavez

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will return to his country "within hours," Cuban state media reported Wednesday. Chavez has been in the island nation, where he is undergoing cancer treatment, since Sunday.

Syria-Unrest (monitoring)

Despite fresh violence and global skepticism, the Syrian government said Wednesday it will abide by the terms of a United Nations-backed peace plan and meet a looming deadline to halt all military action.

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Indonesia's response to a massive earthquake and a tsunami scare Wednesday highlights a critical reality: Warning systems and emergency responses have come a long way since the catastrophe of eight years ago. But there's still work to be done -- not just in Indonesia, but in some other countries throughout the region as well.

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Greece will hold parliamentary elections May 6, Prime Minister Lucas Papademos announced Wednesday.

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Smoldering worries about the debt crisis in Europe have flared up again in global financial markets with Spain and Italy feeling the heat.

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Israel is in the midst of discussions with Finland about the possibility of participating in a conference about creating a nuclear-free Middle East, according to Israel's Foreign Ministry.

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North Korea has started fueling a long-range rocket it plans to launch in the coming days, a senior national space official said Wednesday.

China-Gu

As the drama surrounding one of the Chinese Communist Party's most powerful leaders, Bo Xilai, unfolds with all the twists of a soap opera, attention has now focused on his wife, Gu Kailai, the woman likened to the "Jackie Kennedy of China" and now at the centre of a murder investigation.

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Iran said it has broken up an Israeli "terror and sabotage network" that was planning attacks within the country, making a number of arrests while confiscating weapons and equipment, state-run media reported.

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The Philippines said Wednesday that its largest naval vessel was engaged in a standoff with two Chinese maritime surveillance ships in a remote lagoon in the South China Sea.

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The special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin shooting case has announced that she has filed a charge of second degree murder against George Zimmerman. So, what did Special Prosecutor Angela Corey have to do legally to get here and what will happen next?

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Here's a look at the timeline of events in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, and the ensuing uproar.

Florida-Attorneys

Craig Sonner and Hal Uhrig have viewed courtrooms from both the prosecution and the defense table. Until Tuesday, the two attorneys -- who have focused solely on criminal defense in recent years -- comprised the legal team representing George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Florida, who ignited a firestorm of controversy when he shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February. But while the two insist they believe and support Zimmerman's claim that he shot the teen in self-defense, they said Tuesday they could no longer claim to represent him, as they had lost contact with him.

California-Charles-Manson

Notorious killer Charles Manson, 77, was denied parole Wednesday after a California parole panel "could find nothing good as far as suitability" for his being paroled, a commissioner said.

California-Pepper-Spray-Protest

The pepper-spraying of student protesters at the University of California-Davis was an "objectively unreasonable" use of force by campus police, a state review of the incident concluded Wednesday.

Connecticut-Death-Penalty-Vote

Lawmakers in Connecticut's House of Representatives are expected to vote Wednesday on a bill that would abolish the state's death penalty, one week after the bill passed the state Senate.

Maryland-Same-Sex-Divorce

Maryland's highest court is set to issue a ruling in a case involving a lesbian couple married in California but denied a divorce in Maryland because the state does not currently allow same-sex marriages.

Pennsylvania-School-Threats

The home of the University of Pittsburgh's chancellor was among the latest targets of a series of empty bomb threats plaguing the Pennsylvania school, officials said Wednesday.

US-Energy-Renewables

Federal support for renewable power helped the United States reclaim from China the title of the world's biggest investor in clean energy, researchers for the nonprofit Pew Charitable Trusts reported Wednesday.

SPORT-Football-Coach-Dead

An assistant football coach at the University of South Alabama in Mobile was found dead at his home, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a coroner said.

MED-FDA-Livestock-Antibiotics

For decades farmers have used antibiotics to improve food consumption rates and enhance the growth of otherwise healthy animals. The Food and Drug Administration wants farmers and animal producers to phase out such uses, concerned that they are undermining the fight against illness in humans. On Wednesday the FDA asked the livestock industry to voluntarily limit the use of medicines for treating, controlling and preventing specific diseases. It also asked drug manufacturers to make changes so that the antibiotics can only be prescribed by a veterinarian.

MONEY-Apple-DOJ-Ebooks

The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday brought a lawsuit against Apple and several publishing companies over a scheme to fix e-book prices.

MONEY-Verizon-Upgrade-Fee

Thinking of upgrading your phone with Verizon? Better do it fast. On April 22, Verizon Wireless will institute a $30 upgrade fee for existing customers who purchase new phones with a two-year contract.

MONEY-Johnson-Risperdal-Arkansas

An Arkansas judge slapped Johnson & Johnson and a subsidiary with more than $1.2 billion in penalties on Wednesday for deceptive marketing of the antipsychotic drug Risperdal.

MONEY-Best-Buy

Electronics retailer Best Buy said Wednesday that its investigation of ex-CEO Brian Dunn's conduct is ongoing. Dunn resigned unexpectedly Tuesday amid an investigation into his "personal conduct." A spokesman for the company would not elaborate on the investigation's focus, or indicate when the inquiry might be complete.

MONEY-Consumer-Bureau-Student-Loans

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Wednesday released a new online tool it's testing to help families compare the costs of attending different colleges and universities. The bureau launched the financial aid online tool to help families estimate the cost of a degree at up to three different individual schools.

MONEY-Manufacturing-Alabama

As manufacturing picks up across the United States, Alabama has become an unexpected beneficiary.

MONEY-Reebok-Nike-Tebow

Reebok has reached a settlement with Nike, agreeing to stop producing sports apparel with the name of football star Tim Tebow, according to court documents.

MONEY-Tax-Car-Crash

The odds of getting into a fatal crash increase by 6% on tax filing day, according to a study published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

MONEY-Oil-Price-Economy

An oil price spike caused by a confrontation with Iran is now seen as the biggest threat to the U.S. economy.

MONEY-Stocks

U.S. stocks closed higher Wednesday, bouncing back after a string of five down days, as concerns about Europe eased and hopes for a better-than-expected earnings season rose.

MONEY-Thebuzz

Is Google's future so bright, it has to wear shades? While many are still scratching their heads about last week's Project Glass announcement -- those bizarre virtual-reality lenses are not one of Google's typical April Fool's Day jokes -- investors are hoping that Google will wow investors with strong first quarter earnings after the bell Thursday.

POL-Poll-Christie-Approval

Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey received his highest approval ratings to date in a Quinnipiac survey, according to the results released Wednesday.

ELECTION 2012

POL-Campaign-Wrap

President Barack Obama and his certain Republican opponent in November, Mitt Romney, shifted to full general election mode Wednesday, portraying each other as threats to future American progress as their campaigns engaged in a "war over women" indicative of what to expect for the next seven months.

POL-Poll-Romney-Pennsylvania

A new poll released one day after Rick Santorum suspended his bid for the Republican presidential nomination indicates that the former senator from Pennsylvania had lost his lead in his home state in advance of the April 24 primary.

POL-Romney-Challenge-Right

Typically when a presidential candidate wraps up his party's nomination after months of reaching out to base voters in the primaries, the question becomes whether he can appeal to the political center for the general election. Not for Mitt Romney.

POL-Romney-Obama-Ledbetter

The Mitt Romney campaign's failure to answer a reporter's question Wednesday over the support of an equal-pay for women law was quickly pounced on by President Barack Obama's campaign, marking the first skirmish of the general election now that Romney is the apparent GOP nominee.

POL-Romney-Female-Unemployment

Mitt Romney, eager to close the persistent gender gap opening up between himself and President Barack Obama, has begun using an eyebrow-raising statistic on the campaign trail.

POL-Obama-Campaign-Romney

President Barack Obama's re-election campaign marked the conclusion of the Republican primary -- and the beginning of the general election campaign -- with a nearly two-minute Web video splicing together clips of Mitt Romney's most conservative statements from the trail.

POL-Romney-Santorum-Campaign

Their bitter primary rivalry may seem fresh, but likely GOP nominee Mitt Romney said Wednesday he was looking forward to hitting the campaign trail with former candidate Rick Santorum.

POL-Romney-Pulls-Pennsylvania-Ads

Well on the way to securing the GOP presidential nomination, Mitt Romney on Tuesday pulled his television advertising from Pennsylvania airwaves, a GOP ad tracking source told CNN.

POL-Campaign-Suspending-Explainer

POL-Santorum-Religious-Conservatives

Evangelical activist Michael Farris was not exactly surprised that Rick Santorum suspended his campaign on Tuesday. But that doesn't mean that Farris, a longtime political organizer, knows what he's supposed to do now.

POL-Friess-Santorum-Backer

The billionaire who was a major financial backer of a super PAC supporting Rick Santorum, said Wednesday he is "willing to help" the Republican party this fall, and that the GOP has to "move forward" from the bitter primary campaign.

POL-Gingrich-Campaign-Check

Newt Gingrich shrugged off a $500 bounced check from his campaign Wednesday, saying the mistake was "one of those goofy things."

POL-Gingrich-GOP-Race

Newt Gingrich stood by his claim that the GOP presidential field has now become a two-man race between him and Mitt Romney, after Rick Santorum suspended his campaign Tuesday.

POL-Ann-Romney-Hampton-Inn

As someone who spends life on the road, Ann Romney knows a thing or two about hotels.

POL-Indiana-Senate-Debate

It's been 12 years since Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar faced off in a campaign debate. That streak ends Wednesday night when the most senior Republican member of the Senate shares the stage with his conservative GOP challenger, Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock, at a debate in Indianapolis that will be televised statewide in Indiana.

FEATURES, ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

ENT-Whitney-Houston-Probe

The police investigation of Whitney Houston's death is "officially closed" with the conclusion that her death was an accidental drowning, the Beverly Hills Police Department said Wednesday.

ENT-Stan-Lee-Convention

Wherever superhero creator Stan Lee goes, a crowd of comic book fans seems to gather, but now Lee's making it official with his own comic convention.

ENT-betty-white-joins-twitter-pranks-co-star

"Hello Twitter!" Betty White posted on Tuesday. "And they said it would never happen. Oh wait, that was me." White used the social networking site to promote her new NBC show, "Betty White's Off Their Rockers."

ENT-khloe-kardashian-kim-and-kanye-are-cute-together

We're still not sure if Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are officially dating, but it's good to know "Kimye" has Khloe Kardashian Odom's seal of approval ... just in case. "I think they're cute together," Khloe said on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Wednesday, not confirming nor denying reports that Kim and Kanye are an item.

ENT-bieber-backs-bully-doc-i-was-bullied-too

The Weinstein Company's documentary on bullying in schools has received another show of support from teen pop star Justin Bieber. The 18-year-old singer has provided the soundtrack for a new TV spot for the "Bully "documentary with his song "Born to Be Somebody." The clip, which premiered on Fandango.com, began airing on TV Monday.

ENT-dont-trust-the-b-stars-embrace-shows-title

It's no surprise that Krysten Ritter revels in the chance to play Chloe, the title character in ABC's new comedy, "Don't Trust the B-- in Apartment 23." "I mean, d-uh," she told CNN. "[In the premiere] alone, I'm in a rap video; I'm naked; I'm getting a kid drunk; and having sex on a birthday cake. It's ridiculous! It's really fun to play any character that has no morals and no filter."

ENT-the-next-list-Game-of-Thrones-linguist-How-to-create-a-language-from-scratch

'Game of Thrones' linguist: How to create a language from scratch

ENT-the-next-list-Recap-Language-creator-David-Peterson-on-The-Next-List

For linguist David Peterson, inventing a new language is "like creation itself."

ENT-the-next-list-A-history-of-Hollywood's-invented-languages

A history of Hollywood's invented languages

TRAVEL-dog-home-stay-sites

Does your dog object to vacationing in a cage? Can't count on your brother-in-law to commit to dog-sitting for two weeks? Now there are home stay websites for four-legged creatures. Frustrated with kennels that keep dogs cooped up and charge extra for petting and walks, the founders of DogVacay.com and Rover.com are connecting dog lovers who want to earn extra cash with travelers who want dog-friendly people to care for their pets close to home while they're away.

SPORT-olympics-2012-campbell-brown

Veronica Campbell-Brown knows a thing or two about upsetting the odds. The 29-year-old Jamaican sprinter has had to overcome grinding poverty to become one of the greatest Olympians her country has ever produced. After being spotted running barefoot at a school sports day, Campbell-Brown burst on to the track and field scene when she won silver as part of Jamaica's 4x100 meters sprint team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. That was just the start.

FEA-cook-pregnancy-attraction

I recently saw video of an interview I'd done a couple years ago, when I was ginormously pregnant. Next to Annie Lennox, I was nine months pregnant, with body parts bloated beyond recognition and heading in directions they normally don't. My breasts were falling to the sides -- why had someone not told me to wear a more effective push-up bra? -- my face was all puffy. I swear, I counted one, two -- no, three -- chins below my overly smoky eye shadow. And then there was the belly -- a massive dome of a thing, so immense that Lennox looked like a wee Scottish lass beside me. Jessica-Simpson-on-the-cover-of-Elle, no. Sexy, I was not.

TECH-tips-unemployed-netiquette

Raise your hand if someone you know was laid off in the last month. The odds are pretty good (meaning awful). Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that hiring slowed dramatically in March. Although more people are being taken on than cut loose in the private sector as a whole, the public sector continues to hemorrhage jobs, and recently we've seen dismissals in everything from magazines to nursing homes.

TECH-the-next-list-GraFighters

When boredom struck, Eric Cleckner and David Chenell decided to get creative. They co-founded an online fighting game called graFighters, which lets users bring their own drawings to life.

TECH-the-next-list-a-game-to-make-your-life-superbetter

A game to make your life "SuperBetter"

MED-enayati-power-perceptions-imagination

Viktor Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist who spent three years during World War II living under unspeakable circumstances in several of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps. While imprisoned, Frankl realized he had one single freedom left: He had the power to determine his response to the horror unfolding around him. And so he chose to imagine.

COMMENTARY-Mayer-Instagram-Facebook

What Facebook will do with Instagram.

COMMENTARY-Pho-health-spending

Doctors and patients should talk more, test less.

COMMENTARY-Galbraith-Buffett-Rule

Obama needs more than symbolism of 'Buffett Rule.'

COMMENTARY-granderson-violence-race

Violence and race: a two-way street.

COMMENTARY-Hostin-Trayvon-Martin-Jury

Let a jury decide on Trayvon Martin case.

LOAD-DATE: April 12, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The Outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

19 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 11, 2012 Wednesday 7:20 AM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 2803 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Ed Payne - 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

Iran-Israel-Terror-Network (3:45 a.m.)

Syria-Unrest (3:45 a.m.)

Shelling and bombardment erupted in Syria on Wednesday as international envoy Kofi Annan held out hope that government forces and the opposition will meet a looming deadline to end all hostilities.

Philippines China Naval Standoff (4 a.m.)

The Philippines said Wednesday that its largest naval vessel was engaged in a standoff with two Chinese maritime surveillance ships in a remote lagoon in the South China Sea.

North-Korea-Rocket-Launch (monitoring)

North Korea has started fueling a long-range rocket it plans to launch in the coming days, a senior national space official said Wednesday.

Florida-Teen-Shooting (will update)

Peru-Mine (will update)

It will be "a few hours" before a rescue operation begins to reach nine trapped miners in southern Peru, the nation's president told reporters Tuesday night. Engineers were working to make sure the mine was secure "so there are no victims," President Ollanta Humala said.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

TOP STORIES

North-Korea-Rocket-Launch

North Korea has started fueling a long-range rocket it plans to launch in the coming days, a senior national space official said Wednesday.

POL-Campaign-Wrap

SPORT-Arkansas-Petrino

Bobby Petrino has been fired as head football coach at the University of Arkansas, the school's athletics director said Tuesday. Petrino's lack of candor about his "personal and professional relationship" with a female employee who was riding with him on a motorcycle that crashed earlier this month was key to the decision, Jeff Long told reporters.

California-Charles-Manson

When the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation holds a parole hearing for notorious murderer Charles Manson on Wednesday, he will be represented by state-appointed attorney DeJon R. Lewis who will urge the state to put Manson in a mental hospital, Lewis told CNN. Manson, 77, and Lewis, a 45-year-old attorney who was just a boy at the time of the "Manson family" killings in 1969, haven't yet met. In fact, it is unclear whether Manson will attend his parole hearing.

INTERNATIONAL

Egypt-Constitution

Egypt's administrative court suspended the 100-member constitutional assembly on Tuesday delaying the drafting of the new constitution.

North-Korea-Rocket-Launch

North Korea has started fueling a long-range rocket it plans to launch in the coming days, a senior national space official said Wednesday.

POL-North-Korea-Intelligence

While the Obama administration is urging North Korea not to go ahead with its expected rocket launch, the launch does present one benefit: The U.S. intelligence community will get the rare opportunity to more precisely see just how far North Korea has progressed with its long-range missile technology program since its last launch three years ago.

Korean-Air-Threat

NORAD jet fighters intercepted a Korean Air passenger jet and escorted it to a safe emergency landing at a military base on Vancouver Island in British Columbia after the airline received a bomb threat, officials said Tuesday.

US-Guatemala-Kingpin

The U.S. Treasury Department added a Guatemalan man to its drug kingpin list Tuesday, describing him as a "critical link" between Colombian drug producers and Mexico's Zetas cartel.

Italy-Cruise-Ship-Captain

Italy's highest court ruled Tuesday that the captain of the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship must remain under house arrest while he is investigated for possible criminal charges.

Syria-Unrest

US-Syria-Tough-Choices

No one in the Obama administration seems ready to say out loud that the Syria peace plan has failed, but Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came close. Asked whether the six-point plan on which U.N. and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan supposedly won agreement from Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is failing, Clinton told reporters the plan has not achieved a main goal of stopping the attacks.

South-Korea-Politics

With a new corruption scandal emerging regularly, South Koreans appear to be turning away from traditional political parties and toward the unaffiliated underdog. In response, the major parties are panicking, changing their candidates, their policies and even their names in preparation for Wednesday's parliamentary election.

China-Party-Official

The wife of a controversial Chinese leader and a family aide have been arrested in connection with the death of a British businessman, Chinese state media announced Tuesday.

North-Korea-Rocket-Launch

US-North-Korea

As North Korea prepares to commemorate the 100th birthday of its late founder Kim Il Sung with the launch of a satellite into orbit, the U.S. is already bracing for even more drama the day after.

Belgium-Brussels-Transport-Strike

Public transport in the Belgian capital, Brussels, was paralyzed for a fourth day Tuesday after staff walked out to protest the death of a co-worker in an assault.

Norway-Breivik

Afghanistan-Unrest

The Taliban claimed responsibility Tuesday for two suicide attacks on government facilities in Afghanistan that killed at least 18 people and wounded 27 others.

China-Activist-Sentence

A Chinese court on Tuesday sentenced a disabled lawyer who defended tenants' rights to more than two years in jail for "picking quarrels and making trouble," a local human rights advocacy group said.

SPORT-Motorsport-Bahrain-F1-Zayani-Ecclestone

Bahrain Grand Prix organizers insisted Tuesday that the Formula One race scheduled for the gulf kingdom later this month should go ahead despite mounting pressure for it to be scrapped.

U.S.A.

GSA-Fallout

The General Services Administration has suspended an employee award program cited by congressional investigators for exceeding spending limits, the acting head of the agency said Tuesday.

Oklahoma-Shootings

The suspects in the shootings of five African-Americans in Tulsa, Oklahoma, confessed shortly after their arrest, according to police documents.

US-New-York-Bride-Cancer-Fraud

Florida-Teen-Shooting-Prosecutor

Florida-Marlins-Castro (will update)

Ozzie Guillen's remarks on Fidel Castro may be constitutionally protected, but he has learned there is nothing shielding him from the ire of Miami's large Cuban community.

US-Air-Show-Crash-Findings

California-Charles-Manson

US-Teacher-FBI-Top-10

A former private school teacher and camp counselor facing child pornography charges was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list Tuesday.

US-Terrorism-Trial

Washington-School-Bus-Emergency

A Washington school district is hailing a middle-school student as a hero after he guided a school bus to a stop when the driver slumped in his seat.

MED-Teen-Birth-Rate-Record-Low

The teenage birth rate in the United States has fallen to a record low in the seven decades since such statistics were last collected.

Maryland-Lottery-Winner

Miss-Universe-Transgender

US-Marine-Obama

A Marine facing discharge over criticism of President Barack Obama on a Facebook page he administers will fight in military and civilian courts, his attorney said Tuesday.

US-Northeast-Brush-Fires

MONEY-Stand-Your-Ground-Companies

Pressure is building on companies to cut ties with a group that has championed Florida's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law, now under scrutiny in the Trayvon Martin case.

Tech-Smart-Phone-Thefts

A rise in the theft of smart phones, cell phones and tablets across the country has prompted the wireless industry to take steps aimed at minimizing the usefulness of a stolen device.

ELECTIONS 2012

POL-Romney-Women-Voters

As the Republican field winnowed Tuesday, Mitt Romney made an appeal to a voting bloc key to any candidate's success in November: women.

POL-Santorum-Political-Obit

POL-Campaign-Wrap

POL-Campaign-Suspending-Explainer

POL-Republicans-Reax-Santorum

POL-Pennsylvania-Senator-Endorses-Romney

Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania threw his weight behind Mitt Romney on Tuesday, two weeks ahead of the state's presidential primary.

POL-Crossroads-Anti-Obama-Ad

A conservative political action committee on Tuesday announced plans to spend $1.7 million in a half-dozen battleground states criticizing President Barack Obama's energy policy.

POL-Ron-Paul-Ad

FEATURES, ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

ENT-sharon-tate-murder-pop-culture

As convicted murder Charles Manson comes up for parole review on Wednesday, there continues to be an enduring fascination in Hollywood regarding his crimes. The murder of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four others on August 9, 1969, by members of a group known as the Manson Family left a thumbprint on American pop culture that has influenced music, movies and books. One of the latest projects is the book "Restless Souls: The Sharon Tate Family's Account of Stardom, the Manson Murders, and a Crusade for Justice," written by a woman who has a personal tie with the story.

ENT-California-Latino-Producers

FEA-Garbage-Pail-Kids-Book

MED-Wallace-Depression

ENT-Ricki-Lake-Married

Ricki Lake has tied the knot with fiance Christian Evans, and the TV personality/actress is feeling the love.

ENT-Lindsay-Lohan-Complaint

Lindsay Lohan's had enough of people making false accusations about while she's trying to get her career back on track after five years of legal troubles, her publicist said Tuesday.

ENT-Madonna-Sales-Drop-Reports

TRAVEL-Titanic-Last-Dive

SPORT-Freedom-Baseball

A growing number of Major League Baseball players are coming together to make every pitch, home run and strikeout count in the fight against child trafficking.

SPORT-Golf-Bubba-Watson-Internet-Sensation

LOAD-DATE: April 12, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The Outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

20 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 11, 2012 Wednesday 1:53 AM EST

Santorum's decision came down to odds and his daughter

BYLINE: By From the CNN Political Unit

LENGTH: 1386 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Rick Santorum's decision to drop out of the Republican presidential race came after he spent the holiday weekend evaluating the race with his family, who were grappling with the latest hospitalization of his 3-year-old daughter Bella.

Santorum's path to the nomination hinged on three puzzle pieces falling neatly in place, multiple sources close to the campaign told CNN, a prospect that grew dimmer with each passing day.

The campaign, eagerly looking ahead to a slew of conservative leaning states that vote in May, had hoped that Texas would adjust its proportional primary rules and award its treasure trove of 155 delegates on a winner-take-all basis -- but Texas Republicans dismissed the idea.

Santorum was also hoping that Gingrich, who has also been competing for the same conservative anti-Romney voters, would drop out of the race, something the former House Speaker shows no signs of doing.

Finally, the campaign understood that a victory in Santorum's home state of Pennsylvania on April 24 was crucial.

Romney's poll numbers have lately creeped up in Pennsylvania and his campaign was in the process of unleashing a more than $2 million negative ad blitz against Santorum across the state, but Santorum aides said they remained confident that they would pull out a win on their home turf.

His campaign reported it was nearly $1 million in debt last month and would have been forced to drain its campaign account to compete with Romney and his allies on the costly Pennsylvania airwaves, another factor in Santorum's decision.

"The Romney team was putting a lot of money out there," said one Santorum adviser who did not want to be named discussing internal decision-making. "The budget was a factor."

Despite trailing in the delegate count, Santorum vowed as recently as last week to remain in the race until one candidate reached the 1,144 delegates needed to capture the nomination.

However, during a conference call with his wife, Karen, campaign manager and staff before his announcement on Tuesday, Santorum said the decision was based on personal and political factors, according to a Santorum source. A campaign adviser also said the financial state of the campaign probably played a role in the conclusion.

"We made a decision over the weekend that while this presidential race for us is over for me and we will suspend our campaign effective today, we are not done fighting," Santorum said during his speech in Gettysburg on Tuesday. "We will continue to fight for those voices for those Americans who stood up and gave us that air under our wings."

He also acknowledged the decision was not entirely political, saying the past weekend was a "time of prayer and thought" as he and his family cared for his daughter Isabella, the youngest of Santorum's seven children, who suffers from Trisomy 18, a chromosomal condition.

Santorum's organization announced they were halting campaign events on Friday because the candidate's three-year-old daughter Bella was admitted to the hospital. Bella, the youngest of Santorum's seven children, suffers from a rare chromosomal disorder called Trisomy 18, which causes severe medical and developmental problems.

Santorum's departure leaves rival Mitt Romney with a firm grasp on the nomination but also deep wounds left to heal within the GOP.

Santorum spoke to Romney before Tuesday's speech, according to a Republican source. But Santorum aide Hogan Gidley told CNN an endorsement of the former Massachusetts governor "is not a inevitability."

Gidley said Santorum and Romney are attempting to schedule a meeting to discuss an endorsement and that the latter would like it to occur "sooner rather than later."

Santorum entered the race with a voting record in the House and Senate of a staunch social conservative and presented himself on the campaign trail as the alternative to more moderate candidates, who he said had compromised their ideals for political expediency.

More recently, he elevated his fire directly at Romney, labeling him a flip-flopper on conservative issues including abortion rights, cap and trade and government mandated health care. He also repeatedly accused the former executive of failing to tell the truth.

"For somebody who is maybe the weakest candidate we've every had on the pro-life issue to attack the leader of the pro-life cause is absurd," Santorum said at a forum in Troy, Michigan on February 25. "He glosses over and doesn't even tell the truth....Here is a guy who is the ultimate flip-flopper running for president, and he's attacking me for not being principled? That doesn't wash."

Santorum officially announced his candidacy on June 6, 2011, and quickly began airing radio ads in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, the first three states to vote.

Soon after his official announcement, he told CNN that his bid would be based on a consistent conservative record.

"I think I stand out because I have been a consistent conservative, someone who has been a leader, someone who's had the courage to lead on a variety of hot-button topics before they were popular, like entitlement reform. I've been a leader on that," he said.

In August, when his candidacy was barely making waves in key early voting states, Santorum maintained his effort would take a long view of the race, saying at a rally, "This is the little-engine-that-could campaign."

He was eclipsed first by Michele Bachmann's entry in the race, then Rick Perry's. When those two faltered, Herman Cain became the conservative favorite.

As Cain was faltering amid accusations of sexual harrassment, Newt Gingrich was the last conservative to slingshot past Santorum, taking a lead over Romney in polls in November and December.

At GOP presidential debates throughout the fall, Santorum was mostly marginalized as the most questions went to the top-tier candidates.

In the months leading up to Iowa's caucuses, Santorum became the first GOP presidential candidate to visit all of Iowa's 99 counties, often sporting what became his signature look (and the butt of jokes): a sweater vest bearing his campaign's logo.

Despite all that time in Iowa, Santorum didn't see substantial traction in polls until January as Gingrich withered in the heat of negative ads from Romney's campaign and a super PAC that supports him.

And on election night in Iowa, it looked like Santorum had narrowly missed his first surprise victory in the race when initial counts showed he had come eight votes short of beating Romney.

The narrow miss was enough to energize conservatives to contribute to the cause and give Santorum a spike in fundraising. And his conservative rivals began to fall.

Bachmann dropped out of the race the day after Iowa. Two weeks later, the certified vote in Iowa showed that Santorum had actually won there and Perry dropped out of the race later that same day.

Gingrich then won in South Carolina and Romney won in Florida and Nevada, states that Santorum largely ignored to concentrate on more conservative voters down the road. That strategy paid off when he stunned Romney by sweeping Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri all on the same day and changed the trajectory of the race.

Romney, who had begun to take on the air of the Republican nominee by focusing on President Barack Obama rather than Republican rivals, had to turn his focus back toward his challenger and built up a nearly 400-delegate lead in the race to the 1,144 needed to clinch the nomination.

Despite increasingly long odds, Santorum maintained throughout the last weeks of March that he would stay in the race, citing flawed delegate math and upcoming contests that looked to be in his favor.

"Our delegate calculation has Gov. Romney far below 50%," Santorum said on March 19 on CBS. "We think there's a lot of primaries coming up, including Pennsylvania my home state, where we can make some big delegates. Texas will be another great state for us. We feel very good that we're going to continue to win and do well."

A senior Santorum source said that Bella's hospitalization was a major factor in the decision to bow out.

"When you have enough time with your adrenaline down, you start to think about what's really important," the source told CNN. Sitting in the hospital with his daughter for the second time during this campaign put that in perspective for Santorum, the source said.

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

21 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

Creators Syndicate

April 11, 2012 Wednesday

Romney Trails Obama, but Key Numbers Break His Way

BYLINE: Michael Barone

SECTION: ROMNEY TRAILS OBAMA, BUT KEY NUMBERS BREAK HIS WAY

LENGTH: 811 words

Now that Rick Santorum has "suspended" his campaign, we can stop pretending and can say what has been clear for weeks: Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee for president. The general election campaign has begun.

In some quarters, it is assumed that Barack Obama will be re-elected without too much difficulty. There are reports that staffers at Obama's Chicago headquarters consider Romney's candidacy a joke.

One suspects the adults there take a different view. For the fundamentals say that this will be a seriously contested race, with many outcomes possible. Obama's job-approval numbers in the realclearpolitics.com average of recent polls hover at 48 percent positive, 47 percent negative. That's on the cusp between victory and defeat.

Obama leads Romney in recent polls by 48 to 43 percent. Note that Obama's percentage does not exceed his job approval. And Romney does not maximize the potential Republican vote.

Romney carries bruises, some self-inflicted, from the primary process, and his unfavorable numbers far outnumber his favorables. He got more negative than positive press coverage (interestingly, on Fox News as well as mainstream media) even as he was winning the nomination.

One reason is that his campaign and the super PAC backing him have spent most of their ad dollars battering down successive rivals who rose in the polls. The positive case for Romney has gotten much less of an airing.

But general elections involving sitting presidents usually turn out to be verdicts on the incumbent. Challengers who meet minimal standards tend to win if most voters want the incumbent out.

Which is, or is close to being, the case today. Note that the two national pollsters who limit their samples to likely voters, Rasmussen and Bloomberg, show the race a tie. Obama does better with the larger universes of registered voters and all adults. But polls show that this year, unlike 2008, Republicans are more enthusiastic about voting than Democrats.

You see a similar picture when you look at polls in the 11 states that were close last time and are generally considered targets now. Not on the list are Indiana and Missouri, whose 21 electoral votes seem safely Republican this time, and New Mexico, whose five electoral votes seem safe Democratic.

Recent polls in these 11 states show Obama ahead of Romney in every state but Iowa. But they also show him topping 50 percent only in Wisconsin.

Obama seems to be running slightly better than last time in Ohio, Florida and North Carolina, and slightly weaker in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Iowa, and about the same in Virginia, Colorado and Nevada, with no recent polling in New Hampshire.

Obama has not sewn up any of these 11 states, which have 144 electoral votes. Without them, and without the 11 in Indiana and one in Nebraska he carried last time, he would have only 205 electoral votes, 65 short of the needed majority.

And 2008 is not the only possible benchmark. In the 2010 congressional elections, Republicans carried the popular vote for the House in all 11 of these states. They went into the election with only 56 of these states' 126 House seats and came out with 82.

Voters' issue focus this year looks more like that of 2010 than 2008. Even polls showing Obama ahead also show most voters rate him negatively on the top issues, jobs and the economy. Neither the stimulus package nor Obamacare evokes positive feelings.

The president has been reduced to trash-talking the Supreme Court, leaving his press secretary to tidy up afterward. He has been spending a week playing up the Buffett rule, a tax proposal raising capital gains rates on very high earners that would net little revenue.

That polls well in a vacuum. But more extended surveys, like one recently conducted for the moderate Third Way group, show most voters prefer limiting government and putting economic growth ahead of "an economy based on fairness."

That's closer to Mitt Romney's view than Barack Obama's. Obama and his party have bet everything on the notion that economic distress would make Americans favor a bigger government. That turned out to be a losing bet.

Romney and his party are betting that voters are ready for market-oriented reforms. Despite his political tin ear, Romney has been making progress in honing this message.

Meanwhile Obama is flailing. That's not the behavior of an incumbent president confident of winning re-election.

Michael Barone, senior political analyst for The Washington Examiner (www.washingtonexaminer.com), is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a Fox News Channel contributor and a co-author of The Almanac of American Politics. To find out more about Michael Barone, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM

LOAD-DATE: April 12, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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The Philadelphia Inquirer

April 11, 2012 Wednesday
CITY-C Edition

Santorum bows out, clearing the path for Romney

BYLINE: By Jeremy Roebuck and Amy Worden; Inquirer Staff Writers

SECTION: NATIONAL; P-com News for PC Home Page; Pg. A01

LENGTH: 1087 words

Now it's Romney vs. Obama.

With that in mind and a bruising primary fight finally behind him, Mitt Romney bathed in the praise Tuesday night of a cheering crowd of Chester County Republicans - finally, their party's presidential nominee in all but name.

Hours earlier, Rick Santorum, the former Massachusetts governor's last significant GOP rival, suspended his campaign amid a family health crisis and a growing chorus of calls from party leaders for him to drop out of the race.

Santorum's decision, announced at an afternoon appearance in Gettysburg, cleared Romney's path to his party's nomination at its August convention in Tampa and set the stage for what is sure to be a rancorous general election showdown with President Obama.

"This has been quite a day for me," Romney told the gathered crowd at Inn at Mendenhall in southern Chester County. "We'll have work to do ahead of us, but let's all enjoy tonight."

His speech Tuesday night, in one of the suburban swing counties that were fiercely contested ground in 2008, also offered Republican faithful here a chance to partake in their candidate's victory lap.

"I knew this was coming at some point, but I didn't think it would come so soon," said Chester County GOP chair Val DiGiorgio as he scrambled to accommodate an overflow crowd.

Santorum's exit came less than two weeks before his home state's April 24 primary, a contest he had called a "must-win" for him.

With his wife, Karen, at his side, the former Pennsylvania senator announced his decision in the same room at the historic Gettysburg Hotel where only three weeks earlier, he had pledged to soldier on after his defeat in the Illinois primary.

Holding back tears, Santorum cited the hospitalization of his 3-year-old daughter, Bella, and the uphill battle he faced at the polls, as factors in his decision.

Bella, who suffers from a serious and rare genetic disorder, was in the hospital over the weekend with her parents at her side. Santorum said the good news was that she was able to come home Tuesday morning.

"We made a decision over the weekend," he said, "that while this presidential race for us is over, and we will suspend our campaign today, we are not done fighting."

Saying he had enabled "conservatives to have a voice" in the GOP nominating process, Santorum marveled at the unlikely nature of his campaign, in which he rose from a poorly financed candidate with little organizational support to become the strongest remaining challenger to Romney's well-funded run.

"Against all odds, we won 11 states, millions of voters, millions of votes," he said. "I realized if I felt and understood at a very deep level what you all were going through across America, that your voice could be heard and miracles could happen. And miracles did happen."

He did not mention Romney, letting questions linger over whether he would endorse his onetime opponent - though he said the next goal was to defeat Obama.

Romney and his backers had poured millions into negative ads attacking Santorum in primary states like Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan - and had pulled back an attack ad in Pennsylvania only after learning Santorum's daughter had been hospitalized.

Striking a conciliatory tone Tuesday, Romney's campaign released a statement acknowledging Santorum as "an able and worthy competitor."

But right away, attention shifted to Nov. 6.

"It's no surprise that Mitt Romney finally was able to grind down his opponents under an avalanche of negative ads," Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said. "But neither he nor his special-interest allies will be able to buy the presidency with their negative attack ads."

Obama's campaign has developed a big cash lead over Romney's, collecting more than $84 million by the end of February to the former governor's $7.2 million. And campaign advisers have long focused on Romney as their likeliest rival.

Both Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul pledged to stay in the Republican race Tuesday, but neither was considered much of a threat to Romney. Calling himself "the last conservative standing," Gingrich asked Santorum supporters to back him instead.

Even before Tuesday, Romney had been on a pace to claim the 1,444 delegates needed for the nomination. According to an Associated Press tally of the 32 states to have voted so far, his delegate count stands at 661, to Santorum's 285, with 136 for former House Speaker Gingrich and 51 for Texas Congressman Paul.

At his appearance in Mendenhall on Tuesday night, Romney paid his remaining GOP rivals no heed. Instead he ripped Obama's record on the economy, military spending, and health care.

Mindful of his falling poll numbers with women, Romney told of recent discussions with struggling female business owners and attacked what he called a drift toward socialism under Obama.

"The innovative spirit of the American people is still there," he said. "Yet these economic policies of this president are wearing it down. This administration has some explaining to do."

Throughout the primaries, conservative critics dogged Romney as too far to the middle - a "mushy moderate," Santorum called him - to rally his party's conservative base. His run still poses challenges for a GOP primed to attack Obama's federal health-care overhaul - a plan modeled in part on the one instituted under Romney's watch as Massachusetts governor.

Still, Santorum supporters across Pennsylvania said they want to oust Obama.

"It will take a while for the enthusiasm to manifest itself in my spirit," said Colin Hanna, a former Chester County commissioner, conservative activist, and early Santorum backer. "But it will be there."

At Lancaster Bible College in Manheim, Pa., where Santorum appeared Tuesday night with evangelist leader James Dobson, several supporters lined up outside were surprised to learn their candidate had left the race. Asked if she could support Romney, Helen Sneder, 80, said simply: "I'll vote for him, if that's what's left to vote for."

But in Gettysburg, Tim Bitler, 20, of Reading, and Bryan Barth, 21, professed excitement that their party was finally coalescing. They had dashed over from their political science class at Gettysburg College on receiving a text from a friend that Santorum was speaking nearby.

"It's pretty historic," Bitler explained. "As someone said, 'The GOP civil war ends at Gettysburg today.' "

Contact Jeremy Roebuck

at 267-564-5218 or jroebuck@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @jeremyrroebuck.

Staff writers Matt Katz and Thomas Fitzgerald contributed to this article.

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

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Pittsburgh Tribune Review

April 11, 2012 Wednesday

Rick Santorum folds presidential campaign

BYLINE: Salena Zito

LENGTH: 1024 words

GETTYSBURG -- Republican Rick Santorum suspended his presidential campaign on Tuesday, following losses in March and April primaries that led to an insurmountable delegate disadvantage.

"Miracle after miracle, this race was improbable as any race we will see for president," the former two-term U.S. senator from Pennsylvania said, surrounded by family. He said the family decided over Easter weekend that "while this presidential race is over for me, and we will suspend our campaign effective today, we are not done fighting."

Santorum, 53, did not mention front-runner Mitt Romney in his 14-minute speech at the Gettysburg Hotel, but he referred to Lincoln's address at the Civil War battle site.

"We will never be a country that can go forward as a great and powerful country again unless we remember who we are and what makes us Americans," he said. "That's what our campaign was about."

Neither Santorum nor campaign adviser John Brabender of Pittsburgh would say why he quit now. Santorum and wife Karen spent the weekend tending to their hospitalized daughter, Bella, 3, who has a chromosomal disorder that causes developmental and medical problems. Doctors released her on Monday.

Santorum's campaign limped along in recent weeks with little money, weakening popularity in polls and almost no chance to overcome Romney in the race for 1,144 party delegates. His departure all but anoints the former Massachusetts governor as nominee, though former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas remain in the race.

Romney called Santorum "an able and worthy competitor. ... He has proven himself to be an important voice in our party and in the nation."

Gingrich said he remains committed to campaigning until the August convention in Tampa and asked Santorum's supporters to review his record.

"Rick has waged a remarkable campaign. His success is a testament to his tenacity and the power of conservative principles," Gingrich said.

In a Susquehanna Polling and Research survey from March 29 to April 1, Santorum led Romney by 7 percentage points among Pennsylvania Republicans and 30 percentage points among self-identified "very conservative" voters, said Jim Lee, Susquehanna Polling president. The poll of 500 voters had an error margin of 4.3 percentage points.

"He absolutely had a shot," Lee said. "You can still make a case that Santorum could've won" the state's April 24 primary.

It was a gamble, Lee said. Losing his native state after a 2006 Senate defeat to Democrat Bob Casey Jr. would weaken any arguments Santorum could later make about reigniting his political career. A nasty primary fight could wound Romney in a key swing state, earning Santorum enemies among Republicans hoping to beat President Obama.

"At this point, he can save almost everything that he has earned during this campaign," Chris Borick, a political science professor at Muhlenberg College, agreed. "Among those things are admiration and restoration of his political credibility, and the potential for a future as a presidential candidate."

Romney used his financial advantage in earlier primaries to overcome conservatives' doubts about him and almost certainly would have continued that in Pennsylvania, where his campaign made a $2.9 million television ad buy.

Federal Election Commission reports show Romney started March with $7.3 million in the bank to Santorum's $2.6 million. Super PACs, which can accept unlimited donations and run parallel campaigns to aid candidates, widened Romney's advantage. Super PACs spent $2.4 million to support Romney before the April 3 Wisconsin primary, compared to $751,000 to support Santorum, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Experts say Santorum helped and hurt the party with his socially conservative campaign that turned the national spotlight on religious and moral issues.

"I'm not sure there ever was a movement for Santorum," said Bruce Haynes, a Republican strategist based in Washington. "He was merely the final repository of the last vestiges of the values- and culture-based voters who wanted a candidate other than Romney."

Santorum's remarks denouncing birth control as harmful to women and society could cost the party support among female voters, said Lara Brown, a political science professor at Villanova University.

"I think that Santorum has left some destruction in his wake," Brown said. The GOP successfully wooed women in 2010 and 2011, she said, and "for much of January, Romney was in good stead among women, partly because the issues that the Republicans were focused on were the economy and energy."

Though Santorum's strict Catholicism alienated some Catholic voters, his trademark barnstorming enabled him to capture a sizable majority of evangelical Protestants in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana -- something no other serious presidential contender has done, said Eldon Eisenach, a political scientist emeritus at Tulsa University.

He became "the first to establish that religious/moral/family values trump particular church identities in the Republican Party," Eisenach said.

Santorum was the last of second-tier Republican candidates to surge during the long primary process, rising in popularity when Iowa officials certified him as the surprise winner of that state's January caucus. State party leaders waited weeks to announce it, on the eve of the South Carolina primary that Gingrich won. Initially, Iowa declared Romney the winner.

In February, Santorum won caucuses in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado, empowering his campaign as the party's "only true, consistent conservative."

Then, his caustic tone intensified. He criticized Romney as the worst candidate Republicans could run and suggested he would prefer Obama for a second term. Party leaders began to suggest that Santorum exit the race after the Ohio primary in early March.

Chris Kelley, a political scientist at Miami University of Ohio, said Santorum can look back on his run with pride.

"He really was written off from the start as a nobody, and he came close to becoming a somebody," Kelley said.

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Richmond Times Dispatch (Virginia)

April 11, 2012 Wednesday
State Edition

GOP is scheming to limit women's rights

SECTION: EDITORIAL; Pg. A-10

LENGTH: 863 words

GOP is scheming to limit women's rights

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Kathy Byron's Op/Ed column, "Assembly's gains were overlooked," is unbelievable. She dismisses the recent outrage over threats to women's reproductive health care as the result of "distortions" about the proposed legislation.

Byron is naive if she thinks that the bills in the General Assembly are not part of a wider Republican agenda to limit women's reproductive rights. Rick Santorum opposes birth control, while he, Mitt Romney and Rep. Eric Cantor supported the Blunt amendment that would allow employers to deny women contraception coverage. Romney wants to "get rid" of Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides affordable family planning and cancer screenings to hundreds of thousands of women. George Allen supports a personhood amendment that would jeopardize in vitro fertilization, certain types of birth control and stem cell research. Most Republican officials rant against the Affordable Care Act, which would outlaw insurance companies charging women higher premiums, expand health coverage to many families and make contraception and maternity care more affordable.

As Byron says, Virginians are smart and reasonable people. They will soundly reject the Republican agenda to over-regulate women's reproductive health care come November.

Mary Anne Pugh.

Montpelier.

Florida law needs to be reviewed

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Regarding the Trayvon Martin incident: Among the things that outrage me in this situation is the non-arrest of the armed participant. The outrage by Americans everywhere stems from our knowledge of a system that holds to those principles. This Florida law has never been challenged like in this situation. It is a miscarriage of justice by way of a law that failed to take into account situations that need to be investigated before resolution can be had.

I believe in the judicial process. This law has taken the process out and left a decision of guilt or no-guilt to the policing agencies on duty. Was this law a cost-saving measure attempting to reduce caseloads?

An armed adult (who had been instructed to remain in his car by the police department) who becomes the sole survivor of a life-and-death struggle with an unarmed youth should have been arrested and held until the facts were reviewed. Zimmerman needs to have the full range of judicial processes employed to determine whether his actions were correct.

This Florida law and this event are evidence that a full review and standard processing of a criminal act should have been the order of the day.

Is this law being put back on the docket for review or appeal? If not, why not?

Judy Grubbs.

Henrico.

Attacking my views doesn't help yours

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

David Metz's letter, "Conservatives are the mainstream," carried the by now all-too-familiar content. He presented a common laundry list of "wrongs" perpetrated by liberals and progressives, juxtaposed to a list of the usual "virtues" of conservatives. His point, in short, was that conservatives are mainstream and good, and that liberals are extreme and bad.

Herein is a reminder for Metz of the mirror image of his conservative virtues. It was a conservative who walked into the church of a Unitarian minister a few years ago and shot him to death. The perpetrator of the worst act of domestic terrorism yet was Timothy McVeigh, an ultra-conservative. In the last few decades, some physicians who provided abortions were murdered by social conservatives. At some Tea Party rallies, signs caricaturing President Obama as a monkey were prominently displayed. If those signs were not racist, what is?

It is not my intent to characterize all conservatives as murderers, terrorists and racists. To do so would be an ad hominem attack and would neither be true nor representative. Metz should similarly recognize that not all liberals and progressives can be characterized by the actions of a few. Attacking the opposition for simply being the opposition damages the public conversation. Arguing the merits of one's position on the issues strengthens it.

David J. Cohen.

Henrico.

Thanks, Richmond, for the advertisements

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Recently commercials have been running that advertise the work being done on the downtown expressway toll booth. I would like to thank the Richmond city government for upgrading the way I am taxed on a daily basis.

Every day I take the Powhite Parkway to Interstate 95 in the morning and return home on the same route in the afternoon. I pay almost $3 a day in tolls. Am I paying for an upgrade in the toll system? Has this road not been paid for already? Richmond city government has become addicted to the income generated through this toll road. Downtown commuters are selectively taxed every day to get to a lifeless downtown. The poorly run city government has the highest taxes in the immediate area and the smallest return.

I pay an extra $100 a month in home property taxes a month for a poor public school system, dropping property value and, oh yeah, leaf collection. So thanks for running the commercial to tell me how much easier it will be for you to collect $3 in tolls from me every day.

Ben Dunham.

Richmond.

LOAD-DATE: April 13, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

25 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

Tampa Bay Times

April 11, 2012 Wednesday
0 South Pinellas Edition

WITH SANTORUM OUT, FOCUS SHIFTS

BYLINE: ALEX LEARY, Times Staff Writer

SECTION: NATIONAL; Pg. 1A

LENGTH: 1001 words

DATELINE: GETTYSBURG, Pa.

HIGHLIGHT: The question now becomes can Mitt Romney generate enthusiasm and unite Republicans.

Rick Santorum came to this storied battleground Tuesday and abruptly surrendered his campaign for president. But as Mitt Romney effectively seizes the Republican nomination, his rival's presence could linger in the tough months ahead.

More than any of the other contenders in the long, strange GOP primary, Santorum exposed Romney's core weaknesses: a difficulty connecting with voters and a moderate past that may win over independents in the general election but left many conservatives yearning for someone else.

"The real question for Romney now is, can Republicans unite? Can he get enthusiasm out of the base?" said Pennsylvania pollster Terry Madonna.

Romney already is feeling the effects of Santorum pushing birth control, abortion and other social issues to the forefront at a time when Romney wanted a laser focus on the economy. Women are peeling away from the GOP, polls show, providing a boost to President Barack Obama.

Santorum came from nothing, emerging from a crowded field to win the Iowa caucuses and 10 other states, all while delaying Romney's coronation and making him spend millions more than planned.

"People said 'How did this happen, how were we able to come from nowhere?'" Santorum asked at a news conference at the Gettysburg Hotel. "Because I was smart enough to figure out that if I understood and felt at a very deep level what you were experiencing across America and try to be a witness to that ... then your voice could be heard and miracles would happen.

"And so it did. Miracle after miracle, this race was as improbable as a race you'll ever see for president."

Santorum, 53, said he made the decision the same way he began the race: with his family gathered at the kitchen table. His wife, Karen, and four of his children stood with him Tuesday.

"While this presidential race for us is over, for me, and we will suspend our campaign effective today, we are not done fighting," said Santorum, who held back tears and vowed to help defeat Obama and win Republican control of Congress.

Santorum had virtually no chance to catch Romney, who overpowered him with organization, money and delegates. Santorum also faced the distinct prospect of losing the Pennsylvania primary April 24, which would be a humiliating defeat in the state he represented in Congress for 16 years.

It would have echoed Santorum's landslide loss in his 2006 U.S. Senate re-election bid and stained his political future. Romney was poised to unleash a $2.9 million spending blitz with a TV ad highlighting that loss to Democrat Bob Casey Jr. but pulled back after Santorum's 3-year-old daughter was hospitalized over the weekend.

Bella Santorum suffers from a rare genetic disorder and returned home Monday night.

Santorum had been expected to start Tuesday with a rally in Bedford, about two hours west of Gettysburg, but his campaign emailed reporters after midnight to say the schedule had been upended. In Gettysburg, Santorum implied his daughter played a role in his decision to suspend his campaign but never fully explained his decision.

"She is a fighter and doing exceptionally well," Santorum said, but noted it "did cause us to think." His daughter's illness drew widespread sympathy and provided the graceful exit many thought Santorum needed.

"A lot of Republican leaders are happy with him," Madonna said. "They avoid this divisive primary here, which would have been very high profile. In that sense, he lives to fight again."

Santorum did not mention Romney during his remarks and at one point said people, "even those at the White House," may now consider it "game over."

But the two men spoke and Romney requested a meeting. Santorum endorsed Romney in the 2008 election, and observers think he would stay true to his pledge to help defeat Obama.

Romney issued a statement praising Santorum as a "worthy competitor" and congratulating him on a good campaign. "He has proven himself to be an important voice in our party and in the nation."

Two other candidates besides Romney remain - Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul - but neither can stop Romney, who sealed his future by sweeping primaries in Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia last week. He had twice as many delegates as Santorum and his lead is now insurmountable.

Freed from the rigors of a primary, Romney can now fully focus on Obama, who campaigned and raised money in Florida on Tuesday and will return to Tampa on Friday, pressing every advantage of his incumbency in a key battleground state.

Romney has to pivot to a broader message, and his past could help. He cut a more moderate profile as a politician in Massachusetts than he presented in the primary and that could be an asset in gaining independent voters.

At the same time, Santorum helped draw out many of those contrasts, heightening the image of Romney as a shape shifter. More than anything Santorum tried to drive home similarities between the health care plan Romney oversaw as governor and the law enacted under Obama. With Romney as the nominee, Santorum warned, Republicans would lose a central focus, though Romney has said he would seek to repeal "Obamacare" as well.

Santorum's Tuesday event hinted at the news before it was announced. It was held in a small room and the public was not invited, only reporters, though Gettysburg resident Chad Collie, 35, managed to squeeze in.

"I'm very stunned and disappointed," Collie said afterward. "He had tons of support coming up. In Texas, he was polling far ahead." Now he's not sure whether he'll support Romney or take a pass on the election.

Romney's "not genuine," Collie said. "He's not the one I want for president."

But the day brought a fresh wave of calls by prominent Republicans to back Romney. Herman Cain, who had a brief turn at the top of the presidential primary before dropping out, said he would throw support behind him. So did Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

"Mitt Romney will be our party's nominee, and it is critical that all Republicans coalesce behind (him) and focus on electing him as president."

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: PHOTO - Associated Press: Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum turns to his wife, Karen, after suspending his candidacy on Tuesday. PHOTO - Getty Images: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney holds a town hall-style campaign event at RC Fabricators, a structural steel engineering company, on Tuesday in Wilmington, Del.

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The Washington Post

April 11, 2012 Wednesday
Regional Edition

Santorum's Gettysburg surrender

BYLINE: Dana Milbank

SECTION: EDITORIAL COPY; Pg. A19

LENGTH: 773 words

DATELINE: GETTYSBURG, PA.

GETTYSBURG, Pa.

Three weeks ago, Rick Santorum chose this Civil War town to give a defiant speech about his need to stay in the presidential race, linking his struggle against Mitt Romney to "the things that the people in this battlefield just down the road fought for."

Recalling the blood shed at Gettysburg, he exhorted more than 1,000 supporters: "That's why we must go out and fight this fight."

But if Santorum thought he was George Meade rallying the Union forces, he turned out to be leading Pickett's charge - the disastrous Confederate offensive here at which Gen. George Pickett lost half of his division and the war turned against the South. Santorum lost the Wisconsin and Maryland primaries, his poll numbers plunged, his money dried up, conservative and Republican Party leaders called on him to quit, and he canceled a string of campaign events.

After calling off his first two appearances Tuesday, Santorum rolled into the Gettysburg Hotel - the same spot where he gave his Gettysburg Address three weeks ago - for what the campaign had said in a Facebook posting would be a "Rally for Rick." This time, however, he was bumped from the ballroom by a convention of district attorneys and had to settle for a small conference room with seats for 20 reporters.

Even in defeat, Santorum sounded defiant, not even mentioning Romney in his 15-minute speech. "We made a decision over the weekend that while this presidential race for us is over for me, and we will suspend our campaign effective today, we are not done fighting," he announced, standing with some family members in front of a wrinkled American flag (an aide brought an iron, but there hadn't been enough time to use it).

Recalling his "game on!" exclamation after the Iowa caucuses, Santorum added: "I know a lot of folks are going to write, maybe those even at the White House, 'game over.' But this game is a long, long, long way from over."

But for all the tough talk, Santorum's once-fiery presidential bid went out like a candle Tuesday here in his home state. His campaign, always a shoestring operation, lacked the finances and organization to keep pace with Romney for the Republican nomination. The campaign spent its final day in typical disarray. After a long weekend off while Santorum's young daughter Bella was treated in a hospital, the campaign canceled Tuesday's events overnight - so late that aides neglected to update the schedule on his Web site. Several of Santorum's remaining supporters showed up at his morning event at a sportsman's club in Bedford, Pa., but found not so much as a Santorum sign.

The campaign then scheduled its Gettysburg "rally" for 2 p.m. But this, too, turned out to be bad information. The few supporters who showed up were told by hotel workers that the event was only for the media. "They advertise it that he's going to be here so you can see him!" Santorum supporter Frank Johnston complained at the hotel's reception desk.

That was the least of the complaints Santorum has been hearing. Sen. John McCain said last week that "it's time for a graceful exit." Southern Baptist official Richard Land, who rallied a group of religious conservatives to endorse Santorum, said on CBS's "Face the Nation" that Santorum "ought to seriously consider leaving the race." Even Newt Gingrich, who had attacked Romney savagely, has shifted to the past tense: "Turns out he had more things to hit with than I did."

Although he faced defeat in Pennsylvania's April 24 primary, Santorum was disinclined to listen - right up until the time he took the stage Tuesday afternoon at a lectern still bearing his "Join the Fight" slogan.

Santorum flashed a goofy grin and raised his eyebrows as he entered. He spoke about his ill daughter, his grandfather in the coal mines, his sweater vests and topics from Iran to the "moral enterprise that is America." The closest he came to supporting Romney was a vow to "make sure that we defeat President Barack Obama." (He ignored shouted questions about whether he would endorse Romney.)

With his trademark bravado, he boasted of accomplishing "things that no political expert would have ever expected." And he compared himself to another politician who once visited Gettysburg. "What I tried to bring to the battle was what Abraham Lincoln brought to this battlefield back in 1863 on November 19th," Santorum said. "He talked about this country being conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

Yes, Santorum, like Lincoln, spoke at Gettysburg. But it's a safe bet that the world will little note nor long remember Santorum's version.

danamilbank@washpost.com

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

DISTRIBUTION: Every Zone

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The Washington Post

April 11, 2012 Wednesday
Suburban Edition

Anecdotes may be good antidote for Romney bid

BYLINE: Philip Rucker

SECTION: STYLE; Pg. C01

LENGTH: 1405 words

By now, many voters have heard that Mitt Romney once put the family dog, Seamus, in a crate and strapped him to the roof of a station wagon. But far fewer have heard that Romney and his sons once raced across a dark, placid lake on Jet Skis, "Baywatch"-style, to rescue strangers and their dog, McKenzie, after their boat capsized.

Or that Romney once temporarily closed the Boston headquarters of his private-equity firm to round up his co-workers, accountants and lawyers and fan out across Manhattan to search for Melissa Gay, his Bain Capital partner's missing 14-year-old daughter.

Or that as a volunteer lay pastor of his Mormon congregation, Romney spent years counseling neighbors on their marriages and adoptions, helping the unemployed feed their families, and ministering to the sick and the addicted.

The lesser-known stories have surfaced occasionally in profiles of the former Massachusetts governor. But they have not blossomed into any kind of gentler portrait of Romney, who emerged as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee Tuesday after challenger Rick Santorum suspended his bid.

With the campaign's focus shifting toward independent voters, especially women, a Washington Post-ABC News poll released this weekfound that President Obama holds a 2-to-1 advantage as the more friendly and likable of the two candidates.

The long and divisive primary campaign has left Romney shackled by a caricature of a stilted, distant multimillionaire - a quandary that increasingly frustrates some of his advisers and even his wife, Ann.

When Ann Romney recently was asked about her husbandcoming off as stiff, she said, "I guess we better unzip him and let the real Mitt Romney out, because he is not."

She told a Baltimore radio station: "It is so funny to me that that is the perception out there because he is funny, he is engaging, he is witty. He is always playing jokes. When I met him as a teenager, he was the life of the party."

That Romney's softer side has not stuck with voters may be partly his campaign's fault. Until now, his advisers thought his personal anecdotes got in the way of his economic message - that tales of altruism would appear frivolous amid an anemic economic recovery.

"This is not a 'Seinfeld' race," chief strategist Stuart Stevens said. "This is not a race about nothing."

"People care about what you're going to do for them," he added. "Will you be a strong leader? Will you be someone who is going to help me get a job? Will you be someone who's going to change the direction of the country? How off-putting is it when you meet someone for the first time and they pull out their family pictures and say, 'Let me tell you about my trip to the Grand Canyon'? No, you talk about mutual interests."

Knowing they are working with a private and sometimes uncomfortable man, Romney's advisers have not tried too hard to shape the public image of his personality. Instead, they have emphasized his managerial competency and economic plans.

But the reality is that, in modern presidential campaigns, voters expect a level of humanity and verve from their candidates. They gravitate toward those who seem relatable, as former Democratic nominees John F. Kerry and Al Gore learned the hard way. In every election since 1992, the more dynamic and down-to-earth candidate has won.

Now, as Romney prepares to face Obama - who with his recent NCAA brackets has been working even harder than usual to be seen as an everyman - he is trying to open up. He plans to weave more personal anecdotes into his speeches, and he and his family are weighing when to sit down for major magazine and network television profiles.

The campaign is beginning to expand the presence of Ann Romney, who offers moving testimony to her husband's constancy and character. She has narrated a series of videos about their home life featuring family snapshots.

In the latest video, titled "Family" and released Friday, she talks about her husband wrestling and throwing balls with their boys. "Often I had more than five sons. I had six sons," she said. "He would be as mischievous and as naughty as the other boys."

So far, however, the candidate has been reluctant to let down his guard. When he visited "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" recently, Romney began by talking about math. (He noted that he had picked up nine delegates in Guam and 20 in Puerto Rico.) One of his only jokes was about Santorum, a former senator from Pennsylvania, making a good "press secretary."

At a town hall meeting last month in Ohio, a man told Romney, "I know you have a heart" and practically begged him to show it. But the candidate shared no specific anecdotes.

Romney is habitually cautious, and has said he knows that a single odd remark or misplaced metaphor can go viral and doom his candidacy. "You're on all the time when you're running for office," he told Leno. "Everything you say is being followed by, you know, a small camera of some kind that someone has."

But Romney's advisers said there's another reason he's loath to tell personal stories. As Stevens put it, he has "a natural aversion to that kind of braggadocio."

Alex Castellanos, who was Romney's media strategist in his 2008 presidential campaign but no longer works for him, said: "He's a private man in a public world. These days, where every intimate thing in your life is somehow exposed on television, it's like Madonna. If it doesn't happen in front of people, it didn't happen. But Mitt Romney is old school."

Romney's family and friends say that in private he can be warm, loose and endearingly goofy. Occasionally that side comes through in public, such as when he made light of a "Saturday Night Live" parody of him as being "raw and unleashed." The next morning, as he passed out sandwiches at a New Hampshire diner, he quipped, "This is me, just raw and unleashed."

But usually Romney sticks to his script. The few times he has chatted casually with reporters aboard his campaign plane, such as sharing family traditions like meatloaf cakes on his birthday, his aides required that the exchanges be off the record.

On the trail this year, Romney has not spoken of his 2003 rescue of a family from a sinking boat on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. It was Fourth of July weekend and Romney and two of his sons, Josh and Craig, were cleaning up the beach when they heard screams coming from the lake.

The Romneys hopped on their Jet Skis and, together with a few other good Samaritans, ferried the six passengers and their dog, who had been vacationing from New Jersey, back to shore. The story made headlines across New England.

As for the exhaustive search operation Romney helmed in 1996 to find his Bain Capital partner's daughter, he has spoken of it just once this year - and only after an Ohio voter asked him to. The story is perhaps better known among voters, however, because Romney made a television advertisementabout it during his 2008 race, and a pro-Romney super PAC, Restore Our Future, has aired a similar adthis year in some states.

As Romney told it, Robert Gay's daughter had gone to a party in New York City without permission and had not returned home to Connecticut. Immediately, Romney shut down Bain Capital's Boston headquarters and set up a command center at a New York hotel.

He had clerks at Duane Reade drugstores stuff fliers featuring a photo of the girl into shopping bags, and he and his team fanned out to find her. "There we were, a bunch of folks in suits walking around in the parks of New York and in the streets and showing pictures and saying, when we saw teenagers, 'Have you seen this girl?' " Romney recalled.

After their efforts made the local news, someone called the hotline Romney set up asking for a reward. He hung up, but Romney's team traced the call, went to his home in New Jersey and found Melissa in the basement.

Both anecdotes could help neutralize the stereotypical image Romney's political opponents are pushing of him as a heartless, super-rich technocrat.

"I call it the law of the car keys," Castellanos said. "Before I give you my car keys to take me somewhere, I want to know where you promise to take me - policy - but I also want to know: Can I trust you to take me there? Politics is not just about policy. It is about character and trust. Mitt Romney has told the policy part of the story, but that sense of who he is, and can you trust him to take you there, is important, too."

ruckerp@washpost.com

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

DISTRIBUTION: Every Zone

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The Washington Times

April 11, 2012 Wednesday

Republicans' secret weapon against Obama;
Revitalized RNC has the cash and staff to trigger elephant stampede

BYLINE: By Matt Mackowiak SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES

SECTION: B, COMMENTARY; Pg. 1

LENGTH: 892 words

Although we live in a post-Citizens United world of super PACs, the national party committees re- main relevant, in fact, vital, to winning national campaigns.

As any former or current party chairman will tell you, there are certain things that only a national party can do. It's important that it does them well.

As such, a functioning Republican National Committee is one of the key requirements for Republicans to unseat an incumbent president for only the second time in the past 100 years. (The first was Ronald Reagan over President Jimmy Carter in 1980.)

Reince Priebus, a former chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, did not have a national profile when he won election to national party chairman on the seventh ballot on Jan. 14, 2011. More importantly, he was inheriting an epic disaster handed to him by Michael S. Steele, whose reign as party chairman was a disaster.

Upon taking over, Mr. Priebus inherited a $21 million debt, a bloated staff with low morale and few prospects for immediate fundraising. How bad were things? Political director Gentry Collins, a respected senior GOP operative who had run the Republican Party of Iowa and had been a senior campaign aide to Mitt Romney and John McCain in 2008, released an unusual and scathing four-page letter in November 2010 detailing how bad a job Mr. Steele did.

Had Mr. Priebus done a mediocre job, he would deserve sincere appreciation for taking on this exhausting role in a presidential cycle after the mess he was given.

But Mr. Priebus has quietly led a renaissance at the RNC, with a methodical, disciplined, hard-working, blue-collar approach that has paid major dividends at a critical time for the Republican Party nationally.

First, Mr. Priebus brought in respected operatives Ed Gillespie and Nick Ayers to oversee the transition. They quickly made drastic cuts to the staff and overhead and undertook a thoughtful strategic analysis to forge a path forward. Together, they convinced top staffers to come to the RNC, with Jeff Larson moving from Minnesota to become chief of staff, veteran operative Rick Wiley joining as political director, Sean Spicer leading the communications team, and eventually Joe Pounder leading the round-the-clock research shop. Former ambassador Ron Weiser, whose determination is legendary, was convinced to join as national finance chairman. The team was a significant upgrade and sent a signal to the political and finance community that there was a new sheriff in town.

In the past 15 months, the RNC has raised more than $110 million, which the New York Times reported they had banked "nearly half of it in cash and trust-fund reserves to be used in the upcoming general election," a staggering figure for being the party without the White House. About $22 million was placed into a presidential trust, chaired by Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, available to be transferred immediately to the campaign of the Republican nominee, a quick boost after this year's long, costly and divisive primary.

According to the New York Times, the Democratic National Committee raised $27 million more than the RNC over the same period, not unusual for the party with the White House, but its burn rate left it with less cash on hand ($21 million compared to $26.7 million at the end of March). The RNC has demonstrated greater discipline than its counterpart. The Republican nominee will benefit from it.

"There was a donor strike of sorts at the end of 2010," former RNC Deputy Chairman Frank Donatelli said recently, adding that Mr. Priebus has "regained the confidence of those major donors." Strong fundraising has allowed the RNC to erase nearly half of its debt in 15 months.

True in a campaign of any size, strong finances allow for a strong ground organization.

The RNC already has campaign offices in Florida, North Carolina and Virginia, with more planned in other states in the coming weeks. In Wisconsin alone, Republican volunteers have made more than 1 million voter contacts, which equals the total number of voter contacts repeatedly made by the Obama campaign nationally.

Efficient and effective voter contact requires first-rate data, and the RNC has made invested in updating and upgrading "Voter Vault," which had deteriorated from George W. Bush's re-election of 2004 to the McCain campaign in 2008.

One of the primary roles of the RNC when challenging a president of the opposing party is always to be on offense. Under Mr. Spicer, the RNC communications team has done this, bracketing President Obama's travel, organizing a team of surrogates and constantly unveiling new Web and television ads, as it did Monday with a new ad, "Obama 2012 from Hope and Hypocrisy." They set out to achieve "leaner but speedier" response efforts, as recently detailed by CNN.

The RNC appointed Bettina Inclan to manage its Hispanic voter outreach program nationally and in target states, which eventually will include field efforts, and already includes social media and a new website.

All this has been done in 15 months.

"We are at least 90 days ahead of where the RNC has ever been in history," Mr. Priebus recently said in a statement. Given the mess he inherited, that is quite an accomplishment.

If Republicans win the White House in 2012, the RNC will be a major reason why.

Matt Mackowiak is a Republican consultant and president of Potomac Strategy Group.

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The White House Bulletin

April 11, 2012 Wednesday

Political Notes

SECTION: IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND AROUND TOWN

LENGTH: 466 words

President. Rick Santorum's decision to suspend his campaign yesterday is being viewed as the effective end of the GOP primary, though many news outlets are using the occasion to question the GOP support for Mitt Romney. For example, the AP says Santorum's "shoestring campaign, which ended Tuesday, was a constant reminder of Romney's trouble connecting with the party's conservative core."

... On NBC Nightly News, David Gregory reported that "there was a conversation between Romney and Santorum today. Romney wants his support, wants the endorsement. The Santorum team indicating...they're going to need a couple days before they get all that together," but Romney is "not wasting any time, speaking out and speaking very positively about the campaign that Santorum ran." ... The Hill reported a large number of Republicans immediately endorsed Romney, including Sens. Pat Toomey and Lindsey Graham, and Govs. Bobby Jindal, Rick Scott and Terry Branstad. ... Politico reports that Herman Cain "made clear Tuesday that he is ready to throw his support behind Mitt Romney, making no mention of his endorsement of Newt Gingrich." ... The AP reports President Obama told donors yesterday that "the choice facing voters this November will be as stark as in the milestone 1964 contest between Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater -- one that ended up with one of the biggest Democratic landslides in history." ... The Hill reported on its website that the Karl Rove-backed super PAC Crossroads GPS "is going up with a new" TV ad, "backed by a $1.7 million ad buy," that slams Obama's energy policies.

Governors.

Speaking at the Bush Institute Conference on Taxes and Economic Growth on Tuesday, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said "the US is turning into a 'paternalistic entitlement society' that will bankrupt the country financially and morally because 'we'll have a bunch of people sittin' on a couch waiting for their next government check,'" Politico reports. ... The Tacoma (WA) News Tribune reports former Rep. Jay Inslee (D) announced he raised $583,000 in March for his Washington State gubernatorial campaign, bringing his total fundraising to $4.8 million, ahead of state Attorney General Rob McKenna (R), his top rival, who has brought in $4 million.

Senate.

The Omaha World-Herald reports the Club for Growth, which is backing state Treasurer Don Stenberg (R) in Nebraska's Senate primary, "is taking aim at GOP contender Jon Bruning, accusing him of being a big spender in a statewide radio and television ad."

House.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that PA4 Rep. Jason Altmire and PA12 Rep. Mark Critz -- who are battling in the Democratic primary in the redrawn PA12 Congressional District -- on Tuesday debated for the second consecutive day, "repeatedly finding few policy differences."

LOAD-DATE: April 11, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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The Associated Press State & Local Wire

April 11, 2012 Wednesday 7:10 PM GMT

NC GOP presidential fight fades with Santorum exit

BYLINE: By GARY D. ROBERTSON, Associated Press

SECTION: STATE AND REGIONAL

LENGTH: 693 words

DATELINE: RALEIGH N.C.

Rick Santorum's departure from the Republican presidential race means less should be at stake for the GOP nomination when North Carolina voters participate in the state's May 8 primary.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney appears well on his way to claiming the party's presidential nomination after Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, suspended his campaign Tuesday. Newt Gingrich vowed to remain in the national race and still planned to speak at a Greensboro tea party event Saturday, but the former U.S. House speaker badly trails in the delegate count.

While Gingrich could persuade Santorum supporters to support him during what Gingrich has called "the last stand for conservatives," Santorum's name will remain on the ballot. Other Santorum supporters in North Carolina are already uniting behind Romney. Gingrich is third in the delegate count and has won primaries in only two states, South Carolina and Georgia, which he represented in Congress. Texas congressman Ron Paul also plans to stay in the race.

Santorum's exit "might help Gingrich in terms of some numbers, but I don't think it will help with any kind of long-term chances," said Susan Roberts, associate professor of political science at Davidson College, north of Charlotte. Even a primary victory for Gingrich in North Carolina, Roberts added, "will be a rhetorical victory."

Gingrich was in New Bern on Tuesday wrapping up two days of events in North Carolina when word got out that Santorum was suspending his campaign. Gingrich said Wednesday in Delaware, where the GOP primary is April 24, that supporters are encouraging him to stay in the race. North Carolina has 55 delegates, nearly all of whom are awarded to the presidential candidates on a proportional basis.

State Rep. Harold Brubaker, R-Randolph, who endorsed Gingrich for president, said Wednesday that Gingrich is in a better place than he was 48 hours earlier. Brubaker recalled 1976, the last time North Carolina GOP members played a significant role in choosing a nominee, when Ronald Reagan upset President Gerald Ford. Reagan didn't win the nomination, but he went on to a string of victories and battled Ford to the Republican party convention. Four years later, Reagan won the White House.

"The question with Santorum dropping out is where do those supporters go?" asked Brubaker, who has known Gingrich for more than 20 years. If they go to Gingrich, Brubaker added, "that could put him in pretty good shape in North Carolina."

Roberts said Gingrich will be hard-pressed to get on the airwaves in North Carolina because his campaign is at least $4.5 million in debt. He shouldn't expect TV assistance from Keep Conservatives United, which had started running commercials in Wilmington last week supporting Santorum and criticizing Romney and Gingrich. The independent committee is now backing Romney, organizers Bob Harris and Luther Snyder said.

"We felt Santorum had the best chance to beat (President Barack) Obama because he provided the clearest contrast," Harris and Snyder said in a statement. "We will support Romney in the fall because four more years of Obama ... can very well do irreparable damage to the nation."

Santorum's withdrawal could affect turnout for the May 8 referendum, when voters are also being asked to amend the North Carolina constitution to identify marriage between a man and a woman as the only domestic legal union recognized in the state.

Santorum's supporters include many social conservatives who could also be expected to back the amendment, but Roberts is not persuaded that his lack of active campaigning will change referendum turnout dramatically. There are competitive congressional GOP primaries in several regions that will bring out voters, too, she said.

Roberts said her biggest disappointment as a political scientist is not being in the middle of a hyper-competitive presidential primary, like the Democratic primary between Obama and Hillary Clinton in 2008.

"I was looking forward to some campaigning, and having the campaign being vital in North Carolina," she said. North Carolina is still expected to be a battleground state during the general presidential race.

LOAD-DATE: April 12, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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CNN Wire

April 12, 2012 Thursday 11:49 PM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 4217 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Maggie Leung - 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

North-Korea-Launch (will update)

Defying warnings from the international community, North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Friday, but it appears to have broken apart shortly afterward, U.S. officials said.

Florida-Teen-Shooting (will update)

An affidavit of probable cause in Florida's case against George Zimmerman for the shooting death of an unarmed 17-year-old says that the neighborhood watch volunteer "profiled" the victim, Trayvon Martin, and disregarded a police dispatcher's request that he await the arrival of police.

Syria-Unrest (will update)

The world turned a skeptical eye toward Syria on Thursday after a truce cast relative calm over restive cities and towns previously pounded by government forces.

POL-Campaign-Wrap (will update)

A Democratic strategist's comment questioning Mitt Romney's stated reliance on his wife's advice regarding women's economic issues fueled a second day of efforts by the Romney campaign to fix a gender gap problem in his certain race against President Barack Obama in November.

Summit-of-the-Americas

President Barack Obama's trip to Cartagena, Colombia, will be historic from the moment Air Force One touches down on Friday. His weekend visit will mark the longest time a U.S. president has spent in that country, where security concerns had limited previous presidential trips.

Peru-Hostages

Peruvian authorities have deployed 1,500 troops to search for dozens of workers taken hostage by suspected Shining Path rebels this week. The rebels have demanded money in exchange for the hostages, the state-run Andina news agency said, but government officials have said they will not negotiate with terrorists.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

Florida-Shooting-Charge

TOP STORIES

North-Korea-Launch

Defying warnings from the international community, North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Friday, but it appears to have broken apart shortly afterward, U.S. officials said.

Florida-Teen-Shooting

Syria-Unrest

The world turned a skeptical eye toward Syria on Thursday after a truce cast relative calm over restive cities and towns previously pounded by government forces.

INTERNATIONAL

North-Korea-media-openness

Syria-Unrest

North Korea's opening of its launch pad to journalists has been a boon to North Korea watchers who have relied mostly on satellite imagery to take stock of the country's progress in developing long range missile and rocket capability. The flood of still photos and video have helped shape their understanding of what North Korea is up to.

ivan-watson-q-and-a

On Thursday, CNN correspondent Ivan Watson was at a Syrian refugee camp in Turkey. A stone's throw away, a barbed-wire fence marked the border with Syria, a porous frontier that has become a lifeline for the Syrian opposition inside the country. For hours, he watched Syrians, whole families even, crawl through a hole in the fence to go back and forth across the border. Most of them would eventually return to the refugee camp.

Pakistan-US-Relations

Pakistan's parliament set out new guidelines for its relations with the United States, as it agreed to re-engage with Washington after months of tension over deadly airstrikes on a Pakistani border post by NATO forces and other issues.

Yemen-Militants-Clashes

At least 42 suspected al Qaeda militants were killed in Loder, in Yemen's Abyan province, in continuous government bombardment on their hideouts over the last 24 hours, two security officials in the province told CNN on Thursday.

Egypt-Elections

Egypt's Parliament unanimously passed a bill Thursday that aims to ban former members of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak's regime from running for president for 10 years.

Munch-The-Scream-London

Edvard Munch's "The Scream" -- "the world's most stolen work of art" -- has gone on display in London ahead of its sale in New York next month, where it is expected to fetch more than $80 million.

SPORT-Motorsport-Bahrain-Schumacher-Webber

South-Korea-Elections

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher has dismissed security fears ahead of next week's Bahrain Grand Prix.

North-Korea-Launch

A day after her ruling Saenuri (or New Frontier) party won a majority in general elections, Park Geun-hye, its leader and likely presidential candidate, pledged that people's lives will get better.

UK-US-Hacking-Claims

British lawyer Mark Lewis said Thursday he is preparing to take legal action on behalf of three clients who believe their phones were hacked while they were in the United States. One of his clients is a U.S. citizen, he told CNN, but he declined to reveal their identities.

UK-Met-Police-Hacking

A critical report Thursday into links between top officers at London's Metropolitan Police Service and a former deputy editor of the News of the World found professional boundaries were blurred and poor judgment shown.

Pakistan-US-Relations

Mali-Unrest

Mali's new interim president vowed that he would not let the country be split by rebels as he was sworn in Thursday, restoring the country to civilian rule after a brief military coup.

MONEY-Lagarde-IMF

The director of the International Monetary Fund urged policymakers Thursday to remain vigilant in the face of a still fragile global economy.

Mexico-Viral-Video

A short video that has gone viral in Mexico asks a tough question of the country's presidential candidates: "Are you striving only for the (presidential) chair, or will you change the future of our country?"

UAE-Iran-Ambassador-Recall

The UAE recalled its ambassador to Iran on Thursday in protest of a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to a disputed island.

Indonesia-Earthquake

Five people died after two major earthquakes struck near Indonesia, authorities said Thursday.

Philippines-China-Naval-Standoff

The Philippines said Thursday that it had pulled its largest naval vessel away from a remote lagoon in the South China Sea where it was engaged in an uneasy standoff with two Chinese maritime surveillance ships.

Sudans-Conflict

South Sudan forces have captured a disputed oil-rich area along the border with Sudan, escalating tensions between the two longtime rivals and threatening a return to war.

MONEY-China-Economy

Though China's economy is slowing, it should be able to achieve the desired "soft landing," according to a new analysis from the World Bank.

US-North-Korea-Launch-Legality

Log on to the Korean Central News Agency's state-run website and you'll find a concise explanation of what North Korea's launch of an Unha-3 long-range missile is all about: It's not about the missile, it's about the satellite sitting on top of that missile.

North-Korea-Hunger

An aid worker's recent visit to North Korea shows how the decision to withhold food aid because of Pyongyang's planned rocket launch will affect malnourished people on the ground.

India-Maoist-Abductions

Maoist insurgents in the Indian state of Orissa have set free the second of two Italians they kidnapped almost a month ago, but a local legislator is still being held, a government spokesman said Thursday.

North-Korea-Grant-Kim-Cult

CNN's Stan Grant offers a first-person view of being a witness to the cult of North Korea's Kim dynasty

China-Florcruz-Bo-Xilai

China moves to contain the Bo Xilai scandal.

MONEY-Greece-Election-Explainer

What will Greek elections mean for the country's future? An explainer.

Myanmar-Cameron

British Prime Minister David Cameron will arrive in Myanmar Friday accompanied by a delegation of 10 business leaders -- a measure of how quickly the once reclusive Southeast Asian country is reengaging with the world both diplomatically and economically.

Mexico-Earthquakes

A pair of strong earthquakes rocked Mexico's Gulf of California only minutes apart early Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

MONEY-Japan-Sony-Explainer

Sony's new CEO has pledged to cut 10,000 jobs - about 6% of its workforce

MONEY-Africans-China-Business

China has stepped up its engagement with Africa in recent years, scouring the resource-rich continent in its bid to access natural resources and forge new trade routes. But the Asian powerhouse is also emerging as an attractive business destination for Africans.

SPORT-tennis-Petra-Kvitova-turkey

When Petra Kvitova won her first grand slam title at Wimbledon last year, many tipped the Czech to be the next world No.1.

Florida-Teen-Shooting-Next

What's happens now that Zimmerman is charged in Trayvon Martin death?

Florida-Shooting-Charge

The second-degree murder charge George Zimmerman faces in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin surprised some observers, but it's typical in "heat of passion" slayings, a Florida defense lawyer said Thursday.

Florida-Zimmerman-Jail

George Michael Zimmerman, inmate #201200004452, is living in a cell with 67 square feet of floor space, is allowed to read the Bible and magazines, but has no access to TV, according to officials at the central Florida jail where he is being held.

US-Trayvon-Case-Rodney-King

When Florida authorities announced they were charging George Zimmerman with second degree murder in the killing of unarmed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, Rodney King told CNN he was not surprised.

Florida-Anthony-Gonzalez

A Florida judge ruled Thursday that a woman's defamation lawsuit against Casey Anthony can go forward, contending that a jury should make the final decision on several contentious issues critical to the case.

Pennsylvania-Sandusky-Abuse-Case

A Pennsylvania judge on Thursday denied former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky's attempts to dismiss the case against him, setting the stage for his trial in two months on a host of child sex abuse charges.

Alaska-Coast-Guard-Shootings

Two Coast Guard members have been shot dead on an island off Alaska's coast, prompting the lockdown Thursday of their base and at least one nearby school.

Massachusetts-Terror-Conviction

A pharmacy graduate from Massachusetts who sympathized with al-Qaeda, and traveled to Yemen in the hopes of linking up with the terrorist group, was sentenced Thursday to 17½ years in federal prison, court officials said.

Indiana-State-Fair-Reports

Scaffolding that collapsed during a storm and killed seven people during the Indiana State Fair last year was not up to standard, and the fair's commission did not have adequate emergency planning in place, according to two investigative reports presented Thursday.

Connecticut-Death-Penalty

Connecticut's governor says he will sign a bill abolishing the death penalty, making it the 17th state to abandon capital punishment. On Wednesday night, lawmakers in Connecticut's House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 86-63. The state Senate approved it last week.

US-New-Hampshire-Rwanda-Trial

A New Hampshire woman accused of lying her way into the United States after allegedly participating in the 1994 Rwanda genocide was released from federal custody and put under house arrest Thursday following a mistrial, attorneys from both sides said.

TECH-angry-birds-virus-android

Virus found in fake Android version of 'Angry Birds: Space'

TRAVEL-JetBlue-Pilot

A JetBlue pilot has been indicted, accused of interfering with a flight crew just over two weeks after several passengers wrestled him to the floor after he exhibited what authorities described as erratic behavior.

MONEY-Shell-Oil

Royal Dutch Shell says a sheen of oil, 10 square miles in size, has been spotted near its operations in the Gulf of Mexico, but the company claims it's not to blame.

MONEY-Federal-Reserve-Interest-Rates

When will the Fed hike interest rates?

MONEY-Stocks

U.S. stocks finished higher for a second straight day Thursday, continuing to recover from a modest pullback at the start of April.

MONEY-Google-Earnings

Google is pulling one of the stranger technical maneuvers the stock market has seen for quite some time. The company effectively wants to split its stock, giving current shareholders two shares for every share they own. Here's the twist: The new shares will hold no voting powers, essentially giving the company's founders -- CEO Larry Page, Chairman Eric Schmidt and co-founder Sergey Brin -- more say over time in the company's management decisions.

MONEY-Ponzi-Scheme

Federal officials announced Thursday that they had charged a man who billed himself as the youngest-ever black CEO of a publicly traded company with running a Ponzi scheme.

MONEY-Mf-Global-Corzine

The trustee overseeing the liquidation of bankrupt brokerage firm MF Global says unnamed former officers, executives and directors of the firm could be on the hook personally for at least some of the $1.6 billion in missing client funds.

MONEY-Mortgage-Rates

Mortgage rates fell this week, with the 15-year fixed rate hitting yet another record low, amid news of weak job growth during the month of March.

US-New-York-Suspicious-Package

U.S.A.

Police say a novelty or inert grenade was responsible for the evacuation of a Manhattan skyscraper across the street from the former World Trade Center, the site of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.

US-John-Edwards-Trial

Jury selection begins in a Greensboro, North Carolina, federal courtroom Thursday in the trial of 2008 Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards.

POL-GSA-Scandal

House Republicans released new documentation Thursday designed to undercut administration claims that the cost of past General Services Administration conferences increased at a far greater rate under President George W. Bush than under President Barack Obama.

POL-GSA-Employee-Millions

House Republicans released new information exposing excess spending by the General Services Administration beyond the now infamous 2010 Las Vegas convention.

POL-Florida-West-Communists

Florida Rep. Allen West's controversial comments have once again landed him in the headlines -- this time with the sort of accusation not seen in Congress since the 1950s.

MONEY-Jobless-Claims

POL-Lugar-Mourdock-Debate

Gven their long campaign mudslinging, Wednesday night's debate between Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar and State Treasurer Richard Mourdock could have devolved into a bruising political smackdown. It didn't.

The number of people filing for unemployment benefits rose to 380,000 last week, another hiccup for the labor market following last week's disappointing monthly jobs report.

MONEY-John-Mack-Wall-Street

Morgan Stanley's former CEO isn't easing into retirement. John Mack has shifted his allegiance somewhat, joining companies that could steal business away from big Wall Street firms.

MONEY-Buffett-Rule

A lot gets lost in the rhetoric about the Buffett Rule, which would impose a minimum 30% tax on millionaires.

MONEY-Tarp-Housing-Program

A federal-state program aimed at helping homeowners in states hardest hit by the mortgage crisis is falling far short of its goals, a federal watchdog said in a report released Thursday.

MONEY-Bank-Earnings

Investors want to see something new from banks this earnings season: growth.

MONEY-Earned-Income-Tax-Credit

Many of the people who could use a little extra money the most are missing out on a tax credit worth up to nearly $6,000.

MONEY-marriott-hotel-industry

In 1957 Bill Marriott was a 25-year-old former navy officer urging his entrepreneur father to give him a shot at revitalizing the family's first hotel, outside Washington D.C. Fast forward 55 years and as executive chairman of Marriott International, Bill Marriott has built a world-renowned, multi-billion dollar hotel chain.

ELECTION 2012

POL-Campaign-Wrap

POL-Biden-Romney-New-Hampshire

Vice President Joe Biden's campaign attacks on Mitt Romney continued Thursday in the battleground state of New Hampshire, a state Biden and President Barack Obama won in 2008 but where Romney made significant inroads during the GOP primary in January.

POL-Obama-Biden-Swing-States

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden tag team Thursday as they continue their push for the so-called "Buffett Rule," and they're making their pitches in crucial battleground states.

POL-Romney-Social-Conservative-Groups

Two leading national anti-abortion organizations Thursday endorsed Republican Mitt Romney for president.

POL-Romney-Mormon-Issue

A top evangelical leader who is close to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign says the candidate's Mormon faith will be even more of an issue in the general election than it has been in the primary, predicting that the focus on Romney's faith will present a challenge to Romney.

POL-2012-New-Jersey

If Mitt Romney is looking for an advantage in New Jersey, picking the state's governor Chris Christie as his running mate may help, though a new poll suggests it wouldn't be enough to create a winning Republican ticket.

POL-Barbour-Romney-2012

Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has no plans to formally endorse Mitt Romney now that his fiercest challenger, Rick Santorum, is no longer in the presidential race.

POL-Biden-Romney-New-Hampshire

Vice President Joe Biden's campaign attacks on Mitt Romney will continue Thursday in the battleground state New Hampshire, a state Biden and President Barack Obama won in 2008 but where Romney made significant inroads during the GOP primary in January.

POL-Michelle-Obama-Ann-Romney

Michelle Obama became the latest high-profile figure to weigh in on the stirring controversy over comments made against Ann Romney.

POL-Romney-Surrogate-Charity

It was meant to be a prebuttal to Vice President Joe Biden's Thursday campaign stop in New Hampshire, but former Granite State governor John Sununu, a Mitt Romney supporter, used the opportunity to slam the president for his record in donating to charity.

POL-Obama-Romney-Ad

Maybe you've heard the president's top aides call Mitt Romney the "godfather" of the Obama health care law? Now the Obama campaign is out with a web video that drives home their message.

POL-Romney-Health-Law-Anniversary

Six years to the day after then Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney signed into law his state's historic bipartisan health care bill, the anniversary over the controversial measure was overshadowed by another political controversy.

POL-Rosen-Apology

Responding to a downpour of criticism over comments she made about Ann Romney, top Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen said Thursday she was not taking the heat too personally-even that coming from within her own party.

POL-Rosen-Romney-Reaction

Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen apologized on Thursday for her Wednesday comment about Ann Romney after the controversy went viral and drew bipartisan criticism on Twitter.

POL-Romney-Campaign-Rosen

The Mitt Romney campaign sought to further capitalize politically on the swirling controversy over the remark from Hilary Rosen that Ann Romney "never worked a day in her life," by dispatching female surrogates to accuse Rosen of speaking for the White House.

POL-Obama-Rosen-Ann-Romney

Less than 24 hours after Hilary Rosen made a comment about Ann Romney's history as a stay-at-home mother, President Barack Obama joined other political heavyweights in taking a swing at the Democratic strategist's controversial remarks.

COMMENTARY-Christoph-Terrell-Rosen-Romney

Democrats fear that Ann Romney's message resonates with voters skeptical of Obama policies

COMMENTARY-Bamberger-Ann-Romney

Does one slip of the tongue by a Democratic strategist equal a left-wing assault on stay-at-home moms? That's what the Mitt Romney campaign would like us to think.

POL-Gingrich-Romney-Cabinet

Don't expect Newt Gingrich to join the Mitt Romney administration, should he capture the White House in the next election.

FEATURES

ENT-Gibson-Alleged-Rants

Mel Gibson frequently spews "looney, rancid" anti-Semitism, has talked about killing his former girlfriend, and is prone to hate-filled diatribes slamming everyone from John Lennon to Walter Cronkite, according to a screenwriter who has been working with him.

ENT-Alec-Baldwin-Tweet-30Rock

Alec Baldwin tweet causes '30 Rock' fans to worry

ENT-Biggest-Loser-Michelle-Obama

First Lady Michelle Obama racked up major cool points with contestants for "The Biggest Loser" when she hung out with them at the White House.

ENT-Avengers-World-Premiere

Samuel L. Jackson is cool with being part of an ensemble cast for the upcoming "Avengers," but he'd still like his character to star in his own film. The actor told CNN Wednesday that after two "Iron Man" films starring Robert Downey Jr. and movies focused on "Captain America" and "Thor," he wouldn't mind having some of the spotlight on his character, Nick Fury.

ENT-Three-Stooges-Throwback

The Throwback: Greatest hits (and pokes, and nyuks) from 'Three Stooges'

FEA-spoiler-culture

When "Firefly" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon introduced the film "The Cabin in the Woods" last month at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, he told the audience, "I hope you enjoy it, and then sorta keep it to yourself."

Georgia-Locomotive-Chase

Georgia cities remember madcap 'Great Locomotive Chase' 150 years later

US-CNNHeroes-Wing-Kovarik-gay-adoption

Breaking down barriers so foster kids can find a family

TRAVEL-American-Stories-Exhibit

Reinforcing identity and learning more about who we are: That's the theme of "American Stories," a new exhibit now open at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington.

MED-miracle-baby-medical-theories

A premature baby - who was declared dead shortly after birth - was later discovered to be alive after spending 10 hours in a morgue refrigerator. How did this happen? Doctors at the Perrando Hospital in northeast Argentina can't explain how several doctors pronounced the child dead or how the premature infant born three months early survived for so many hours inside a chilly coffin.

FEA-Grilled-Cheese-Day

Hot off the press: April 12 is National Grilled Cheese Day!

TRAVEL-American-Stories-Exhibit

Reinforcing identity and learning more about who we are: That's the theme of "American Stories," a new exhibit now open at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington.

FEA-buffett-secretary-assistant

POL-Poll-Michelle-Obama

A new poll released Thursday indicated almost two-thirds of voters continue to have a favorable view of Michelle Obama.

If the word "secretary" doesn't conjure up an image for you, just run a quick Google Image search. The pencil in the mouth is a recurring motif, as are beaming women in headsets seated in front of computers. Images abound of women in low-cut blouses, legs crossed under tiny skirts, alongside head shots of Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Hillary Clinton. The women of "Mad Men" hold their ground next to bondage shots of Maggie Gyllenhaal from the movie "Secretary."

ENT-JKRowling-Adult-Novel-Details

When J.K. Rowling announced in February that she was working on her first novel specifically geared toward adults, the demographic was about all fans had to go on. But now we have more details - and a title.

TRAVEL-malaysia-airlines-babies

If you want to stir up a fiery debate -- or maybe even a fist fight -- start talking about air travel and children. Inevitably, someone will declare that airlines should offer "kid-free flights."

TRAVEL-Celebrity-Inspired-Getaways

Do you find yourself enviously clicking through pictures of celebrity homes on your lunch hour? Instead of turning green over the multibillion-dollar estates of George Clooney or Brad and Angelina, why not follow their lead? Plan your own getaway in a place where the stars have found solace, far from the fray.

Mammoth-hong-kong

From the ice age to the modern age, a 42,000-year-old baby woolly mammoth debuted on the world stage in Hong Kong.

TECH-Instagram-users-Facebook

Every morning, Dirk Dallas takes a trip around the world. With his own eyes, he studies artful, real-time images of life in New York, Paris and Hong Kong. But Dallas, a graphic designer, doesn't actually leave his Riverside, California, neighborhood, or even his front door. He just needs his phone and a digital portal called Instagram.

SPORT-motorsport-f1-williams-female-driver

Susie Wolff, the second woman to join Formula One in recent weeks, hopes her new role will pave the way for more females in the elite level of motorsport.

COMMENTARY-Navarrette-divide-trayvon-martin-case

Nation divided over Trayvon Martin case?

COMMENTARY-Chin-Trayvon-Martin-Case-Future

Why the Trayvon Martin case charges are a victory for the legal system.

COMMENTARY-Owens-Boomerang-generation

My life as a boomeranger.

COMMENTARY-Brazile-Romney-negative

Romney bought the nomination with flood of nasty ads

COMMENTARY-Wood-lottery-winners

You won the lottery? Stay anonymous

COMMENTARY-carpentier-secretaries-buffett

'Secretary' title is a blast from the past.

LOAD-DATE: April 13, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The Outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

40 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 12, 2012 Thursday 6:27 PM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 3199 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Samira Jafari - 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

Florida-Shooting-Charge

The second-degree murder charge George Zimmerman faces in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin surprised some observers, but it's typical in "heat-of-passion" slayings, a Florida defense lawyer said Thursday.

Egypt-Election

Egypt's Parliament voted unanimously Thursday against allowing former members of the Mubarak regime to run for office and banned them from practicing politics for ten years.

TRAVEL-JetBlue-Pilot

A JetBlue pilot has been formally indicted for interfering with a flight crew, two weeks after several passengers wrestled him to the ground after what authorities described as his erratic behavior.

Florida-Anthony-Gonzalez

A Florida judge issued a judgment Thursday in the lawsuit against Casey Anthony filed by Zenaida Gonzalez, who claimed she'd had her reputation damaged after Anthony falsely accused her of kidnapping her 2-year-old daughter.

Pennsylvania-Sandusky-Abuse-Case

Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach accused of child sexual abuse, lost several battles in court after a Pennsylvania judge denied several motions his defense team had filed ahead of his upcoming trial.

US-Humane-Society-Chicken-Farm

Humane Society released what they say is undercover video Monday showing gruesome images of many dead and in some cases, mummified chicken carcasses at a farm in southeastern Pennsylvania.

POL-Campaign-Wrap (will update)

Florida-Teen-Shooting (Will update)

A solemn George Zimmerman, wearing gray jail coveralls, appeared before a Seminole County, Florida, judge Thursday, speaking only a few words as his arraignment was set for next month.

Florida-Zimmerman-Lawyer (Will update)

The attorney representing a Florida neighborhood watch volunteer charged with killing an unarmed, black teen is no stranger to high-profile cases and TV cameras.

Syria-Unrest (Will update)

The world turned a skeptical eye toward Syria Thursday after a tenuous truce took effect and cast an eerie calm over restive cities and towns previously pounded by government forces.

Georgia-Locomotive-Chase

It was the most famous high-speed chase of its day. The pursuers didn't have flashing blue lights or the ability to cut off the hijacked vehicle. They didn't have to. The locomotive General weighed more than 20 tons and was confined to a single iron track between Atlanta, Georgia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Its top speed was about 60 miles per hour. "The Great Locomotive Chase," which occurred 150 years ago Thursday, made heroes of the pursuing Southern train crews and the Union soldiers who tried to knock a railroad line out of commission. Nineteen members of the raiding party earned some of the nation's first Medals of Honor. The suburban Atlanta town where the chase began and other communities along the 80-mile chase route this week are commemorating the wild, failed escapade that was featured in two movies.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

TOP STORIES

Florida-Teen-Shooting

A solemn George Zimmerman, wearing gray jail coveralls, appeared before a Seminole County, Florida, judge Thursday, speaking only a few words as his arraignment was set for next month.

Syria-Unrest

The world turned a skeptical eye toward Syria Thursday after a tenuous truce took effect and cast an eerie calm over restive cities and towns previously pounded by government forces.

INTERNATIONAL

Syria-Unrest

The world turned a skeptical eye toward Syria Thursday after a tenuous truce took effect and cast an eerie calm over restive cities and towns previously pounded by government forces.

South-Korea-Elections

A day after her ruling Saenuri (or New Frontier) party won a majority in general elections, Park Geun-hye, its leader and likely presidential candidate, pledged that people's lives will get better.

US-UK-US-Hacking-Claims

UK-Met-Police-Hacking

Pakistan-US-Relations

Mali-Unrest

Mali's new interim president vowed that he would not let the country be split by rebels as he was sworn in Thursday, restoring the country to civilian rule after a brief military coup.

MONEY-Lagarde-IMF

The director of the International Monetary Fund urged policymakers Thursday to remain vigilant in the face of a still fragile global economy.

Mexico-Viral-Video

UAE-Iran-Ambassador-Recall

The UAE recalled its ambassador to Iran on Thursday in protest of a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to a disputed island.

Indonesia-Earthquake

Five people died after two major earthquakes struck near Indonesia, authorities said Thursday.

Philippines-China-Naval-Standoff

Sudans-Conflict

South Sudan forces have captured a disputed oil-rich area along the border with Sudan, escalating tensions between the two longtime rivals and threatening a return to war.

MONEY-China-Economy

Though China's economy is slowing, it should be able to achieve the desired "soft landing," according to a new analysis from the World Bank.

North-Korea-Launch

The first opportunity for North Korea to launch its controversial rocket passed uneventfully Thursday, keeping the region on tenterhooks for at least another day.

US-North-Korea-Launch-Legality

North-Korea-Hunger

An aid worker's recent visit to North Korea shows how the decision to withhold food aid because of Pyongyang's planned rocket launch will affect malnourished people on the ground.

India-Maoist-Abductions

North-Korea-Grant-Kim-Cult

CNN's Stan Grant offers a first-person view of being a witness to the cult of North Korea's Kim dynasty

Venezuela-Chavez

President Hugo Chavez returned home to Venezuela late Wednesday after his latest round of cancer treatment in Cuba.

China-Florcruz-Bo-Xilai

China moves to contain the Bo Xilai scandal.

MONEY-Greece-Election-Explainer

What will Greek elections mean for the country's future? An explainer.

Myanmar-Cameron

Mexico-Earthquakes

A pair of strong earthquakes rocked Mexico's Gulf of California only minutes apart early Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

MONEY-Japan-Sony-Explainer

Sony's new CEO has pledged to cut 10,000 jobs - about 6% of its workforce

MONEY-Africans-China-Business

SPORT-tennis-Petra-Kvitova-turkey

When Petra Kvitova won her first grand slam title at Wimbledon last year, many tipped the Czech to be the next world No.1.

U.S.A.

Massachusetts-Terror-Conviction

A Massachusetts man will be sentenced Thursday after his conviction on multiple terrorism conspiracy charges in a case that raised questions about how terror suspects can be prosecuted.

Florida-Teen-Shooting

The attorney for George Zimmerman plans to ask a judge as early as Thursday to allow the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with killing an unarmed, black teen to post bond -- though he believes it will be difficult.

Florida-Zimmerman-Lawyer

The attorney representing George Zimmerman, who is charged with killing an unarmed, black teen, is no stranger to high-profile cases and TV cameras.

US-New-York-Suspicious-Package

ENT-Gibson-Alleged-Rants

US-John-Edwards-Trial

Jury selection begins in a Greensboro, North Carolina, federal courtroom Thursday in the trial of 2008 Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards.

POL-GSA-Scandal

POL-GSA-Employee-Millions

House Republicans released new information exposing excess spending by the General Services Administration beyond the now infamous 2010 Las Vegas convention.

Connecticut-Death-Penalty

POL-Florida-West-Communists

Florida Rep. Allen West's controversial comments have once again landed him in the headlines -- this time with the sort of accusation not seen in Congress since the 1950s.

POL-Lugar-Mourdock-Debate

Given their long campaign mudslinging, Wednesday night's debate between Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar and State Treasurer Richard Mourdock could have devolved into a bruising political smackdown. It didn't.

MONEY-Stocks

Stocks edged higher at the open Thursday as worries about Europe took a backseat to U.S. economic and corporate results.

MONEY-Jobless-Claims

The number of people filing for unemployment benefits rose to 380,000 last week, another hiccup for the labor market following last week's disappointing monthly jobs report.

MONEY-Shell-Oil

Royal Dutch Shell says a sheen of oil, 10 square miles in size, has been spotted in the Gulf of Mexico.

MONEY-Mortgage-Rates

Mortgage rates fell this week, with the 15-year fixed rate hitting yet another record low, amid news of weak job growth during the month of March.

MONEY-John-Mack-Wall-Street

Morgan Stanley's former CEO isn't easing into retirement. John Mack has shifted his allegiance somewhat, joining companies that could steal business away from big Wall Street firms.

MONEY-Buffett-Rule

A lot gets lost in the rhetoric about the Buffett Rule, which would impose a minimum 30% tax on millionaires.

MONEY-Tarp-Housing-Program

A federal-state program aimed at helping homeowners in states hardest hit by the mortgage crisis is falling far short of its goals, a federal watchdog said in a report released Thursday.

MONEY-Bank-Earnings

Investors want to see something new from banks this earnings season: growth.

MONEY-Earned-Income-Tax-Credit

Many of the people who could use a little extra money the most are missing out on a tax credit worth up to nearly $6,000.

MONEY-marriott-hotel-industry

ELECTION 2012

POL-Campaign-Wrap

POL-Biden-Romney-New-Hampshire

POL-Obama-Biden-Swing-States

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden tag team Thursday as they continue their push for the so-called "Buffett Rule," and they're making their pitches in crucial battleground states.

POL-Romney-Social-Conservative-Groups

Two leading national anti-abortion organizations Thursday endorsed Republican Mitt Romney for president.

POL-Romney-Mormon-Issue

POL-2012-New-Jersey

POL-Barbour-Romney-2012

Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has no plans to formally endorse Mitt Romney now that his fiercest challenger, Rick Santorum, is no longer in the presidential race.

POL-Biden-Romney-New-Hampshire

POL-Michelle-Obama-Ann-Romney

Michelle Obama became the latest high-profile figure to weigh in on the stirring controversy over comments made against Ann Romney.

POL-Romney-Campaign-Rosen

POL-Rosen-Romney-Reaction

Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen defended her controversial comments about Ann Romney Thursday, claiming Republicans were attacking her to divert attention from what she said were policies that negatively impacted women. Rosen generated instant bipartisan criticism Wednesday night for her statement that Romney has "actually never worked a day in her life." On CNN Thursday, she said the conversation shouldn't be about working moms versus stay-at-home moms, but rather about creating economic opportunity.

POL-Romney-Surrogate-Charity

POL-Obama-Romney-Ad

Maybe you've heard the president's top aides call Mitt Romney the "godfather" of the Obama health care law? Now the Obama campaign is out with a web video that drives home their message.

POL-Poll-Michelle-Obama

A new poll released Thursday indicated almost two-thirds of voters continue to have a favorable view of Michelle Obama.

FEATURES

TRAVEL-American-Stories-Exhibit

Reinforcing identity and learning more about who we are: That's the theme of "American Stories," a new exhibit now open at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington.

FEA-buffett-secretary-assistant

ENT-JKRowling-Adult-Novel-Details

TRAVEL-malaysia-airlines-babies

If you want to stir up a fiery debate -- or maybe even a fist fight -- start talking about air travel and children. Inevitably, someone will declare that airlines should offer "kid-free flights."

TRAVEL-Celebrity-Inspired-Getaways

Mammoth-hong-kong

From the ice age to the modern age, a 42,000-year-old baby woolly mammoth debuted on the world stage in Hong Kong.

TECH-Instagram-users-Facebook

SPORT-motorsport-f1-williams-female-driver

Susie Wolff, the second woman to join Formula One in recent weeks, hopes her new role will pave the way for more females in the elite level of motorsport.

COMMENTARY-Navarrette-divide-trayvon-martin-case

Nation divided over Trayvon Martin case?

COMMENTARY-Chin-Trayvon-Martin-Case-Future

Why the Trayvon Martin case charges are a victory for the legal system.

COMMENTARY-Owens-Boomerang-generation

My life as a boomeranger.

COMMENTARY-Brazile-Romney-negative

Romney bought the nomination with flood of nasty ads

COMMENTARY-Wood-lottery-winners

You won the lottery? Stay anonymous

COMMENTARY-carpentier-secretaries-buffett

'Secretary' title is a blast from the past.

LOAD-DATE: April 13, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The Outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

41 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 12, 2012 Thursday 11:46 AM EST

Romney bought the nomination with flood of nasty ads

BYLINE: By Donna Brazile, CNN Contributor

LENGTH: 882 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

Editor's note: Donna Brazile, a CNN contributor and a Democratic strategist, is vice chairwoman for voter registration and participation at the Democratic National Committee. She is a nationally syndicated columnist, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, and author of "Cooking with Grease." She was manager for the Gore-Lieberman presidential campaign in 2000.

(CNN) -- Maybe money can't buy you love, but it buys a nomination.

Ask Mitt Romney. He outspent Rick Santorum 7-1 to win Illinois, outspent Newt Gingrich 4-1 to take Florida, and more than doubled the competition's spending in Wisconsin. In Pennsylvania, the next big state, Romney had bought nearly $2 million in TV ads even though his main rival, Santorum, had yet to spend a dollar in his home state.

Now he won't have to, having suspended his campaign and vindicated Romney's tactics.

Santorum's national communications director, Hogan Gidley, said that Romney's tactics "shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. This is Mitt Romney's pattern. He comes in and carpet bombs his opponents in every state with massive ad buys."

But knowing Romney's strategy and doing something about it are two different things, as his Republican opponents have learned.

When Mark Twain said, "We have the best government that money can buy," I suspect he said it with sarcasm, and some disgust. Romney, though, takes it literally.

Of course, over-spending on election campaigns hardly constitutes a breach of propriety, especially these days. Mass media buys are expensive, and niche voter groups can be difficult to reach. But the way Romney, supported by his super PAC allies, has bought the Republican nomination should give us all pause, for three reasons.

First, there's who he bought. I'm not talking just about the delegates; that's obvious. I'm talking about the kind of political base he and his super PACs purchased. Second, there's what he bought -- the overwhelmingly negative ads. And third, there's why he bought what he bought.

With his eye on the general election, Romney wasn't so much buying the new Republican base -- the ultraconservative, once-and-future tea partiers -- as he was bribing them. It was part of a tried-and-true Nixonian strategy: Run to the extreme right in the primaries, then run as fast as you can to the middle in the general election.

Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom infamously compared the strategy to an Etch A Sketch, saying, "You hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes."

But there's a critical difference between Nixon's strategy and the one Romney now owns: Nixon had credibility with the far right and didn't put it at risk when he rushed to the center. The strategy works only if you've at least shared an ideological beer before crashing the extremist party.

The Etch A Sketch comment was so telling because it rang so true. It remains to be seen how loyal or enthusiastic the very conservative Republican voters will be when Romney sounds more moderate tones.

Second, we should be concerned about the kind of ads Romney bought. Unable to present conservative bona fides based on his record, Romney's voter outreach was almost exclusively negative. Yes, he won big in Florida, but he did so because a jaw-dropping 99% of his ads were negative.

Before Santorum suspended his campaign, Romney planned to humiliate the former senator with an ad that reminded voters of Santorum's embarrassing loss in 2006. It was to be the blitzkrieg's opening salvo. We'll never know how much influence that ad -- temporarily suspended when Santorum's daughter was hospitalized -- or the even nastier ads that would surely have followed had on Santorum's decision. Judging from the primary debris Romney has left behind, his less-well-funded opponent had enough.

Why does that matter? It matters because life isn't an Etch A Sketch and the currency that determines an election should be a candidate's ideas.

You can't erase your past or run from your record or evade accountability to the truth. Romney's negative, vicious approach to the primary has affected the all-important "swing independents." In the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll, 64% said Obama "seems more friendly and likeable" than Romney. Only 26% felt the other way. And 55% found Obama more inspiring than Romney; 29% had the opposite view.

Romney should recognize that running for president is more like a tattoo than an Etch A Sketch: The image you create will stick on you, and you can't just shake it off.

This brings us to the third point: Why did Romney buy the election by carpet-bombing his opponents with negative ads and pretending for the first time in his political life to be "severely conservative"? The hypocrisy -- and distortions of the truth -- are so blatant, so obvious, that not only Democrats, but even Romney's Republican opponents are astounded at the audacity, and that he gets away with it.

Romney might have bought the nomination, but voters may well make him pay for the way he did it. Whether they buy his expensive, negative and opportunistic transformation in the fall will be a test of more than just the candidate -- it will be a test of our democracy.

Join us at Facebook/CNNOpinion

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Donna Brazile.

LOAD-DATE: April 13, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

42 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 12, 2012 Thursday 10:02 AM EST

Obama Campaign salutes RomneyCare Anniversary

BYLINE: By By CNN Chief White House Correspondent Jessica Yellin and Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser

LENGTH: 402 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Maybe you've heard the president's top aides call Mitt Romney the "godfather" of the Obama health care law?

Now the Obama campaign is out with a web video that drives home the message.

"I helped Gov. Romney develop his health care reform or Romneycare, before going down to Washington to help President Obama develop his national version of that law," says Jonathan Gruber a bright eyed MIT Health Consultant featured prominently in the video. The spot includes old footage of Romney thanking Gruber for his work on the Massachusetts health bill.

Gruber's verdict: "The core of the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare and what we did in Massachusetts are identical."

Get the point?

John McDonough, also identified as an architect of both health care plans, questions Romney's opposition to the president's Affordable Care Act.

"People have him recorded as promoting Massachusetts health reform, promoting it as a national model. And now he is saying he wants to tear down the very model he was promoting," he says.

Gruber puts it succinctly: "all of a sudden Mitt Romney started attacking basically what he had done."

The new web ad comes on the anniversary of the Massachusetts health care law Romney signed as governor. Like the plan Barack Obama put his signature to, the Massachusetts health care bill included a mandate that required residents to purchase health insurance or pay a fine.

The video from 2007 quotes Romney saying that he believes the Massachusetts plan could be "a national model," but Romney also maintains that he believes only a state can impose such a mandate. He insists if elected president he would work to repeal the federal health care law. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering the constitutionality of the national individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act.

The Obama campaign's web video also includes footage of then-Gov. Romney at an official event with a woman identified as Madeline Rhenisch the first person enrolled in Massachusetts "core health plan under Romneycare". In a current-day interview, Rhenisch says her life improved after she got health coverage and asks plaintively of Romney's call for the repeal of Obamacare, "I think, don't you remember me? Don't you remember my story?... Don't we matter?"

Left unsaid: even if Obamacare goes down presumably Rhenisch and others in Massachusetts will continue to get coverage under the state plan Romney passed.

LOAD-DATE: April 13, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

43 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 12, 2012 Thursday 6:55 AM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 635 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Saeed Ahmed - 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

Florida-Teen-Shooting (3:30 a.m.)

The attorney for George Zimmerman plans to ask a judge as early as Thursday to allow the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin to go free on bail, though believes it will be an uphill battle given the intense public interest in the case. "I think nobody would deny the fact that if George Zimmerman is walking down the street today he would be at risk," attorney Mark O'Mara said.

US-John-Edwards-Trial (4 a.m.)

Jury selection begins in a Greensboro, North Carolina, federal courtroom Thursday in the trial of 2008 Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards. Edwards is charged with six felony and misdemeanor counts related to donations to and payments from his failed 2008 campaign. His former mistress is expected to testify at the trial.

Sudans-Conflict (4:30 a.m.)

South Sudan has captured an oil-rich border town claimed by Sudan, officials said, escalating tensions between the two longtime rivals.

India-Maoist-Abductions (5 a.m.)

Maoist insurgents in the Indian state of Orissa have set free the second of two Italians they kidnapped almost a month ago

POL-Obama-Romney-Ad (6 a.m.)

Maybe youve heard the president's top aides call Mitt Romney the "godfather" of the Obama health care law? Now the Obama campaign is out with a web video that drives home their message.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

INTERNATIONAL

South-Korea-Elections

A day after her ruling Saenuri (or New Frontier) party won a majority in general elections, Park Geun-hye, its leader and likely presidential candidate, pledged that people's lives will get better.

Syria-Unrest

A cease-fire deadline passed early Thursday without reports of major attacks in Syria, opposition activists said, prompting dim hopes the warring sides will silence their guns and end more than a year of bloodshed.

North-Korea-Launch

The first opportunity for North Korea to launch its controversial rocket passed uneventfully Thursday, keeping the region on tenterhooks for at least another day.

US-North-Korea-Launch-Legality

North Korea Hunger

An aid worker's recent visit to North Korea shows how the decision to withhold food aid because of Pyongyang's planned rocket launch will affect malnourished people on the ground.

Venezuela-Chavez

President Hugo Chavez returned home to Venezuela late Wednesday after his latest round of cancer treatment in Cuba.

China-Florcruz-Bo-Xilai

China moves to contain the Bo Xilai scandal.

U.S.A.

POL-Romney-Rosen

Democratic Strategist Hilary Rosen generated instant bipartisan criticism Wednesday night for her statement that Ann Romney has "actually never worked a day in her life."

Connecticut-Death-Penalty

POL-Florida-West-Communists

Florida Rep. Allen West's controversial comments have once again landed him in the headlines -- this time with the sort of accusation not seen in Congress since the 1950s.

POL-Lugar-Mourdock-Debate

FEATURES

COMMENTARY-Chin-Trayvon-Martin-Case-Future

Why the Trayvon Martin case charges are a victory for the legal system.

LOAD-DATE: April 13, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The Outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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The New York Times

April 12, 2012 Thursday
Late Edition - Final

Romney Taking Steps to Narrow His Gender Gap

BYLINE: By ASHLEY PARKER and TRIP GABRIEL; Reporting was contributed by Nicholas Confessore, Alison Kopicki, Michael D. Shear, and Catherine Rampell.

SECTION: Section A; Column 0; National Desk; Pg. 1

LENGTH: 1226 words

Mitt Romney moved Wednesday to confront one of his most vexing general election problems -- how to narrow the gender gap he faces against President Obama -- but his campaign immediately found itself squeezed between its intensifying efforts to appeal to women and its need to avoid alienating conservatives.

Female voters have emerged as one of Mr. Romney's largest vulnerabilities. A Washington Post/ABC News poll this week showed that women preferred Mr. Obama to Mr. Romney by 19 percentage points, and an earlier Gallup/USA Today poll of voters in 12 key swing states showed Mr. Obama leading over all, buoyed by independents and women -- two critical voting blocs.

Now, in the face of mounting attacks from Democrats and the Obama campaign, Mr. Romney is taking steps to address that gender gap head on. In the past week, his campaign has devised a three-pronged strategy, which it finalized Tuesday night, advisers familiar with the internal discussions said. They will try to debunk the notion that Mr. Romney's policies have hurt women, turn the criticism back on Mr. Obama and outline how they believe women have suffered under his administration, and brand those issues in a memorable way.

But the campaign stumbled Wednesday just as it was rolling out its new focus: top Romney policy aides, questioned on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act signed by Mr. Obama, which makes it easier for women to sue in equal pay cases, seemed uncertain of how to respond when a reporter asked about Mr. Romney's position on it during a campaign conference call.

While the campaign later released a statement saying Mr. Romney supports pay equity, the law is opposed by conservatives whom Mr. Romney is trying to rally for the general election. The Democrats, meanwhile, seized the opportunity to e-mail news releases citing Ms. Ledbetter's ''shocked and disappointed'' reaction.

As the Romney campaign shifts to the general election, his aides will reintroduce him to voters, warming up his image by emphasizing his role as a devoted father and husband. Mr. Romney's wife, Ann, has already made several Web videos that feature her reminiscences, along with gauzy family photos; voters are likely to see more of these. Mrs. Romney will also increase her campaign appearances; she has already begun to talk about how women tell her they care deeply about the economy, where the campaign wants to keep its focus. Polls showed that as the Republican primary campaign dragged on, Mr. Romney began losing support with women, who may have been put off by the contest's focus on social issues like Planned Parenthood, immigration and contraception.

''Women voters are pocketbook voters, and the highest casualties of President Obama's failures on the economy have been among women,'' said Eric Fehrnstrom, a senior adviser to Mr. Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts. ''Governor Romney has a good record on women's issues. When he was in office, he was judged to have the best record of all governors in hiring women into senior positions.''

On the campaign trail on Tuesday and Wednesday, Mr. Romney began highlighting how under Mr. Obama, women have suffered disproportionate job losses, repeatedly citing the figure of 92.3 percent, which he said was women's share of all the jobs lost since the president's inauguration in January 2009.

The net number of jobs held by women has in fact fallen by 683,000 since Mr. Obama's inauguration, while those held by men have fallen by 57,000. But the statistic is misleading for several reasons. For one, while women have lost many jobs in the past three years, men lost far more jobs during the recession which officially started in December 2007, as men are disproportionately employed in industries sensitive to early swings in the business cycle, like manufacturing and construction.

But as the Romney campaign began aggressively fighting for women's votes, the Obama campaign was simultaneously preparing to make sure voters hear about every conservative stance -- especially those involving women's issues -- that Mr. Romney took during his party's bruising primary race. On Wednesday, they released a ''greatest hits'' video featuring some of his oft-repeated comments -- ''Planned Parenthood, we're going to get rid of that'' -- that will surely be repeated by his opponents as he tries to appeal to swing voters in November.

''Women are the majority of the electorate, and they believe that Mitt Romney doesn't understand them and doesn't even care to try,'' said Stephanie Cutter, the deputy campaign manager of Mr. Obama's re-election team. ''He's absolutely right that women care about the economy, but that begs the question: Why did he skew his policies against them, and why did he spend so much time playing to the right wing by committing to get rid of Planned Parenthood and giving employers the right to deny women contraceptive coverage?''

In addition to focusing on the economy, Romney advisers said they would also play up the strong professional relationships Mr. Romney has had with women, including from his time as governor. They are considering both ads and testimonials from women -- including minorities -- who worked with him in the Statehouse, and have already started rolling out female surrogates to vouch for his record on women's issues.

But Daniel Mitchell, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, said Mr. Romney's statement about pay equity was potentially troubling to conservatives who were already worried about Mr. Romney being sympathetic to issues like the Ledbetter Act.

''It depends on if he was being Clintonian and saying something that can be interpreted in multiple ways, because every free market person will say they're in favor of equal pay,'' Mr. Mitchell said. ''But the suspicion among free market people is that Romney won't contest the left's framing and narrative on this issue.''

Restore Our Future, a pro-Romney ''super PAC,'' is preparing to run positive ads reintroducing Mr. Romney to the electorate. If necessary, they will also run ads attacking Mr. Obama's record with women, mirroring the argument that Mr. Romney and his staff unveiled on the trail this week. Brandishing a glossy graphic in Hartford on Wednesday, Mr. Romney spoke at a women-owned business for the second straight day and cited a series of statistics that he said showed how Mr. Obama's economic policies have had a devastating impact on women.

''I was disappointed by listening to the president as he said, 'Oh, Republicans are waging a war on women,' '' Mr. Romney said at Alpha Graphics, a woman-owned commercial printing business. ''The real war on women is being waged by the president's failed economic policies.''

In the coming days, the Romney campaign plans to lay out more details about the ''real'' war on women, especially as it relates to Mr. Romney's favorite topic -- jobs and the economy. The issue of energy, for instance, could be used to talk about how rising gas prices will affect soccer moms who need to drop their children at practice, or commute to work.

''The point we're trying to make is that women should know exactly what this administration has done and what's happened to women in the workplace under this president's leadership,'' said Lanhee Chen, Mr. Romney's policy director. ''There is something unique about this recession that has hammered women in the work force.''

URL: http://www.nytimes.com

LOAD-DATE: April 12, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: PHOTOS: Mitt Romney, campaigning in Hartford on Wednesday. (A1)
Mitt Romney made a campaign stop Wednesday at Alpha Graphics, a Hartford printing company owned by women. (PHOTOGRAPHS BY OZIER MUHAMMAD/THE NEW YORK TIMES) (A18) CHARTS: Comparing Job Losses: The number of jobs held by women is 683,000 lower than it was in January 2009, while there are only 57,000 fewer jobs held by men. But that comparison is somewhat misleading, because men lost far more jobs at the beginning of the recession. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics) (A18)

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The Philadelphia Inquirer

April 12, 2012 Thursday
WEB Edition

Letters to the Editor

SECTION: NEWS; P-com Nav Inquirer Opinion; Pg. WEB

LENGTH: 1208 words

Romney election a long shot

Yes, Mitt Romney will be the Republican presidential candidate, but a more consistent Romney will not be enough to sway independent, female, and Hispanic voters to back him in November ('Santorum bows out of race, clearing path for Romney,” Wednesday). And if he does not continue his highly conservative bombast and moves too far to the center, he will disinflate the far-right base and look even more like a supreme flip-flopper than he has in the past.

Romney's election will be a long shot. If the economy and stock market are growing, he can kiss the election goodbye.

Ken Derow, Wallingford

Move to the center

Remember in 2008 when The Inquirer had the editorial suggesting that Democrat presidential nominee Barack Obama move more to the center for the general election ('Santorum's out, so Romney's in,” Wednesday)? Me neither.

Fran Steffler, Philadelphia

Fight for extreme right wing

Like many Americans, I have decided who I will vote for in November's election and it certainly isn't the Republican contenders or party. It's not that I think President Obama has shown much fight for his base. It's just that the Repiblican party and its candidates have not shown any taste for the truth.

The spectacle this political season indicates that the Republican fight for the extreme right wing of the party has left little room for independents and thoughtful people who read widely. Even a thoughtful U.S. senator, Olympia Snowe of Maine, is not seeking reelection because Rockefeller Republicans are not able to withstand a primary fight.

Richard Nixon seemed to be better than the current field of pretenders and that's saying a great deal. In fact, I doubt Barry Goldwater could get nominated in today's GOP.

Phyllis Berlant Abrams, Plymouth Meeting

Obama's attack on the successful

According to President Obama, the answer to all of our financial woes is to raise taxes on millionaires ('Obama advocating tax-rate ‘fairness',” Wednesday). Unfortunately, his own Treasury Department has concluded that his proposal wouldn't be enough to pay the interest on this year's deficit, let alone put a dent in our $16 trillion national debt. As a practical matter, it probably wouldn't produce any increase in revenues because millionaires will always find loopholes in the tax code to avoid paying more.

Instead of continuing to vilify the successful people who own businesses that employ middle-class folks, wouldn't it make more sense to encourage more people to become wealthy so there would be even more people to pay their 'fair share”? The president's policy of borrowing our way out of debt is more likely to eliminate 'income inequality” by sharply reducing the number of millionaires. When that happens, who will bail out the United States?

Jack Penders, Media

Rohrer's record of leadership

A recent ad suggests that GOP Senate candidate Steve Welch is supported by the 'grassroots” ('Welch for Senate is GOP's best choice,” Sunday). Not so. When word circulated that Gov. Corbett was going to press for the party's endorsement of Welch, the grassroots worked hard to head this off, believing that Republican voters - not powerful GOP leaders - should choose the best candidate. Since the endorsement, the 'grassroots” have been almost unanimous in their opposition to Welch.

Tom Smith's ads portray a winsome grandfatherly figure who sounds eminently conservative. He does not mention that he only recently converted to the Republican Party.

Sam Rohrer is the only Republican with experience in office in this race. He has a record of integrity and principled leadership. His commitment to the Constitution, to fiscal responsibility, and to individual freedom have often put him at odds with his own party leadership. No wonder he didn't get their endorsement.

Jaime Faucette, Sellersville, jdeefaucette@gmail.com

Maher for auditor general

The race for auditor general, Pennsylvania's fiscal watchdog, is critically important to the future of our state. And voters should be aware that there is an excellent candidate on the Republican primary ballot: John Maher ('Maher for auditor better for GOP,” Tuesday).

In the past, the auditor general post has been held by lawyers, a former nurse, a safety manager, and others, but never by a certified public accountant or auditor. Maher is both. As a state legislator since 1997, Maher has shown independence, fairness, intelligence, leadership, and compassion.

Maher is precisely the type of candidate worthy of the support of all voters regardless of party affiliation.

Elissa B. Katz, Elkins Park, elissakatz@comcast.net

Philly's parking surcharge

I'm in complete agreement with Inquirer staff writer Melissa Dribben's opinion piece on parking tickets in Philadelphia entitled 'You can fight, but you can't win” (Sunday).

After reading the article, I was inclined to skip my scheduled April 9 hearing, but it would have been too late to cancel and I would have incurred additional penalties for not showing up. As the article indicated, it cost me almost $10 to park, plus gas and two hours of my time just to have the hearing officer brush aside my evidence and find me liable to pay a $51 parking ticket.

I had come into Philadelphia from my Bucks County home to attend a football game and have dinner on Germantown Avenue. The new businesses there seem to be struggling, and the tactics of the Philadelphia Parking Authority can't be helping.

My suggestion to anyone thinking of driving into Philadelphia to spend their hard-earned money is to forget it, unless you factor in the parking surcharge.

Jack Zubris, Holland, jz2528@yahoo.com

Questioning ‘merit' selections

After many years of observing the appointment of judges in New Jersey, I'm in complete agreement with Chris Bonneau about the flaws in the process ('Merit selection no guarantee of good judges,” Sunday).

The problem begins before retention elections, however, in the initial 'merit” selection itself, which far too often is more of a political decision than one based on a candidate's ability.

Those lawyers who have contributed liberally, worked assiduously for their party, and are in agreement with the party line, are far more likely to win the prize of a judgeship - whether it's an appellate, superior, or supreme court seat - than the person who has just done an excellent job and exhibits the qualities that would qualify one for the higher office. This partisan process is not limited to any one state; it is prevalent on the federal level also, no matter which party is in power.

It would appear that the solution for the problem of merit selection of judges is to be found in the merit election of the officials who make these appointments.

Marlene Lieber, Medford

Clearing the record

An editorial Wednesday incorrectly stated the year in which Rick Santorum lost his 2006 bid for reelection to the U.S. Senate.

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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The Salt Lake Tribune

April 12, 2012 Thursday

With Rick Santorum out, it's finally Obama vs. Romney

BYLINE: By David Lightman And William Douglas Mcclatchy Newspapers

SECTION: NEWS; National; World; Local

LENGTH: 1313 words

Washington » The general election campaign -- President Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney -- officially began Tuesday afternoon.

It's been stirring for a while, as the two combatants have been blasting away at each other. But with Rick Santorum, Romney's chief rival for the Republican nomination, leaving the race, the former Massachusetts governor is now free to aim squarely at Obama.

Former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul remain GOP contenders, but neither has shown much ability to win votes.

"Dr. Paul is now the last -- and real -- conservative alternative to Mitt Romney," Paul's campaign said in a statement on Santorum's exit from the race. Gingrich tweeted, "It's now a two person race."

The convention delegate count suggests otherwise. Romney has 661 delegates to August's Republican National Convention so far, according to an Associated Press count, and he needs 1,144 to win. He praised Santorum on Tuesday as an "able and worthy competitor." Santorum won 285 delegates, Gingrich has 136 and Paul has 51.

So the brawl to the November finish is on. Just before Santorum announced his decision, Obama was eyeing Romney, telling a campaign event in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., "There are contrasting visions here."

The president said, "This election will probably have the biggest contrast that we've seen maybe since the Johnson-Goldwater election. Maybe before that."

The late Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, a staunch conservative Republican, ran against President Lyndon Johnson, who had strong liberal support, in 1964. Johnson won in a landslide.

While Obama didn't mention Romney by name Tuesday, his campaign did.

"The more the American people see of Mitt Romney, the less they like him and the less they trust him," he said.

At roughly the same time that Obama spoke Tuesday, Romney supporters were briefing the news media on the differences between the candidates.

"There's a sense of a lack of opportunity in the country," former Missouri Sen. Jim Talent charged. "The president's policies have burdened the economy."

Obama defends his major initiatives -- the 2009 economic stimulus and the 2010 federal health care law among them -- while saying that the economy is improving.

Romney counters that the Obama measures were nothing more than big government initiatives funded by out-of-control spending and the economy isn't as robust as it could be.

At the moment, Obama is the race's slight favorite, but Romney is very much in the running. An ABC News-Washington Post poll taken from last Thursday through Sunday found that by 49 percent to 37 percent, voters thought that Obama better understands the economic problems that people in the country are having.

The margin shrunk to a 46 percent to 43 percent advantage when voters were asked whom they trusted to do a better job creating employment.

(EDITORS: STORY CAN END HERE)

Tuesday's chief drama came from Santorum, who had shocked the political world by rising from the back of the GOP presidential pack to threaten Romney. He told a rally in Gettysburg, Pa., that he'd decided to suspend his campaign over a weekend in which he'd tended to his gravely ill daughter, Bella, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder.

With streaks of confidence and defiance that typified his improbable campaign, the former two-term Pennsylvania senator told a news conference, "We will suspend our campaign effective today. We are not done fighting."

In the end, Santorum was forced to end his campaign because he failed to do what he said no other 2012 Republican presidential candidate could do in the general election: win in Rust Belt states such as Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and his home state.

He'd touted his ability to win two Senate terms in what was then a largely Democratic state. But his exit came two weeks before Pennsylvania's primary, and he'd lost his bid for a third Senate term in 2006 in a crushing 18-point defeat to Democrat Bob Casey.

Polls in the Keystone State had found Santorum slipping even before Romney and his supporters dipped into the former Massachusetts' governor's campaign war chest to unleash a barrage of television ads against his rival.

In February, Santorum led Romney 46 percent to 16 percent in a poll by Pennsylvania's Franklin & Marshall College. By March, Santorum's lead had evaporated, and he led Romney by 2 percentage points, a statistical dead heat.

"A month ago he was on top of the world with the wins in Alabama and Mississippi," said G. Terry Madonna, the director of the college's Center for Politics and Public Affairs. "A month later he goes off message talking about men's and women's emotions in combat, about Obama's religion, about contraceptives. I think one-third of voters being moderate and liberal, where does that leave him?"

The 53-year-old former senator's rise and fall proved a spectacular story this year. He traveled around Iowa, the site of the nation's first 2012 caucus, throughout last year, stopping to talk to handfuls of people at a time.

One by one, his chief rivals for the conservative mantle faded. Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann won August's Iowa straw poll, usually a launch pad for a strong candidacy. But as Texas Gov. Rick Perry began his presidential bid the same day, Bachmann found herself buried under the publicity that the newest party curiosity attracted.

Perry faded, too, after a series of brutal debate performances. Then would come businessman Herman Cain, felled by allegations of sexual harassment and marital infidelity, and Gingrich, who led briefly in most polls. Santorum's message of unapologetic conservatism -- and his long record of activism against abortion and other social issues dear to conservatives -- made him a serious contender.

He won Iowa -- though it originally was reported as a loss -- and found himself in a battle with Gingrich for conservatives.

Gingrich faded, and a pattern emerged: In states such as Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, where evangelical Christians make up a large chunk of the GOP primary vote, Santorum won.

But in states where they were less influential -- notably Ohio, Michigan, Florida and Wisconsin -- he lost. He could never broaden his appeal to the more mainstream voters whom Romney was able to attract. Nor was he able to counter Romney's ad blitz effectively. Romney and his supporters outspent Santorum by massive amounts in many states.

The pattern kept repeating in state after state: losses in more diverse states, victories in more conservative states.

------

Visit the McClatchy Washington Bureau atwww.mcclatchydc.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services Alt Heads:

With Rick Santorum out, it's finally Obama versus Romney

Obama campaign: Romney can't 'buy the presidency'

Washington » President Barack Obama's campaign manager says Republican Mitt Romney has been able to grind down his opponents for the GOP presidential nomination but won't be able to "buy the presidency."

Campaign leader Jim Messina issued a written statement reacting to Republican Rick Santorum's withdrawal from the race without ever mentioning Santorum or his decision. Messina instead referred to "developments in the campaign" and focused a sharp critique on Romney, who is now essentially cleared for the GOP nomination.

In doing so, Messina signaled the Obama campaign was immediately escalating its offensive on Romney.

Messina said it was not surprising that Romney outlasted his Republican competition with negative ads.

He said the more the American people see of Romney, "the less they like him and the less they trust him."

The Associated Press

LOAD-DATE: April 12, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: President Barack Obama speaks at Florida Atlantic University, Tuesday, April 10, 2012, in Boca Raton, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Surrounded by members of his family Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum announces he is suspending his candidacy effective today in Gettysburg, Pa., Tuesday, April 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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States News Service

April 12, 2012 Thursday

MAGICAL MISERY TOUR RETURNS TO THE AIRWAVES

BYLINE: States News Service

LENGTH: 694 words

DATELINE: BOSTON, MA

The following information was released by Mitt Romney for President:

While President Obama blankets the airwaves in Ohio, Iowa, Nevada, and Missouri, he may want to answer some questions about his Administration's failed energy policies. After three years of promising change, the only thing that the President has delivered is gas prices twice as high as the day he took office." -Andrea Saul, Romney Campaign Spokesperson

On President Obama's Magical Misery Stop In Ohio, Will He Answer Whether He Agrees With Vice President Biden That "Our Energy Policy Is The Best It's Ever Been"?

Under President Obama, Ohio's Gas Prices Nearly Doubled From $1.90 Per Gallon In January 2009 To $3.71 Per Gallon Today. (AAA Website, www.aaa.com, Accessed 4/12/12)

Vice President Biden: "I Think Our Energy Policy Is The Best It's Ever Been." REPORTER: "Gas prices are above $4.00 a gallon, you were asked this question, and you gave an answer. But there's a new commercial out that says "since Obama has become president, prices have nearly doubled. Four years in, should you all have a better energy policy in America?" BIDEN: "I think our energy policy is the best it's ever been." (WAVY-TV, 4/3/12)

On President Obama's Magical Misery Stop In Nevada, Will He Address The Repeated Criticism That He's Made "No Progress" On Energy Policies While Gas Prices Skyrocket?

Under President Obama, Nevada's Gas Prices Have More Than Doubled From $1.96 Per Gallon In January 2009 To $3.98 Per Gallon Today. (AAA Website, www.aaa.com, Accessed 4/12/12)

NBC's Chuck Todd, On President Obama's Energy Policy: "He's Made No Progress." TODD: "There is no issue that has been a, I guess, a bigger bust for the president than energy policy in general. There's a lot of, we can come up with a lot of excuses as to why, but boy, it's just like you can't - he's made no progress." (MSNBC's "The Daily Rundown," 2/23/12)

The Washington Post's Nia-Malika Henderson: "He's Made No Progress." HENDERSON: "No, he's made no progress. I remember covering him on the campaign and he would talk about, you know, turning these manufacturing plants into wind turbine plants and it seemed to work then, but, you know, in terms of the reality and on the ground actually success during his presidency, absolutely none." (MSNBC's "The Daily Rundown," 2/23/12)

On President Obama's Magical Misery Stop In Iowa, Will He Address Whether He Still Thinks His Energy Policy Is Just A "Hodgepodge"?

Under President Obama, Iowa's Gas Prices Have More Than Doubled From $1.85 Per Gallon In January 2009 To $3.77 Per Gallon Today. (AAA Website, www.aaa.com, Accessed 4/12/12)

President Obama: "Our Energy Policy Still Is Just A Hodgepodge." OBAMA: "Our energy policy still is just a hodgepodge, and for all the progress we've made, we're not where we need to be in making sure that this is an energy-efficient economy that is running on all cylinders." (President Barack Obama, Remarks At DNC Event, Miami, FL, 6/13/11)

On President Obama's Magical Misery Stop In Missouri, Will He Address Whether He Still Supports A "Gradual" Increase In Gas Prices?

Under President Obama, Missouri's Gas Prices Have More Than Doubled From $1.68 Per Gallon In January 2009 To $3.70 Per Gallon Today. (AAA Website, www.aaa.com, Accessed 4/12/12)

In 2008, Obama Said He Would Have Preferred A Gradual Increase In Gas Prices To Help Shift To Alternative Energy Sources. HARWOOD: "As difficult as this is for consumers right now, is, in fact, high gas prices what we need to let the market work, a line incentive so that we do shift to alternative means of energy?" OBAMA: "Well, I think that we have been slow to move in a better direction when it comes to energy usage. And the president, frankly, hasn't had an energy policy. And as a consequence, we've been consuming energy as if it's infinite. We now know that our demand is badly outstripping supply with China and India growing as rapidly as they are. So..." HARWOOD: "So could these high prices help us?" OBAMA: "I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment. The fact that this is such a shock to American pocketbooks is not a good thing." (CNBC's "Your Money, Your Vote," 6/10/08)

###

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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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The Washington Post

April 12, 2012 Thursday
Suburban Edition

Cartagena travel tip: Shout at a strongman

BYLINE: Al Kamen

SECTION: A-SECTION; Pg. A15

LENGTH: 878 words

President Obama is off on Air Force One to attend the Summit of the Americas this weekend in the beautiful seaside city of Cartagena, Colombia.

Secretary of State Hillary "The Texter" Clinton will be taking her plane - then heading from there to meetings in Brasilia and Brussels.

And Hill folks will also be headed to the quadrennial mega-gabfest to grip and grin with 30 or more other heads of government.

(The fun will be to see how things go when they run into lefty anti-Americans such as Venezuela's Hugo Chavez or Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega.)

A couple of House congressional delegations - including a bipartisan group headed by House Foreign Affairs subcommittee chairman Connie Mack(R-Fla.) - are packing to go. Also signed up are Reps. David Rivera(R-Fla.), Albio Sires(D-N.J.), Jeff Duncan(R-S.C.),Henry Cuellar (D-Tex.), Sheila Jackson Lee(D-Tex.) and Sander M. Levin(D-Mich.).

Curiously, not many senators seem to be going. In fact, it may be that the only one going from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a possible vice presidential pick, who we're told is flying commercial to attend.

Seems as if he's going through a lot of trouble. "Senator Rubio has pushed to promote democracy" in the region, spokesman Alex Conant explained. "This summit is a good opportunity for Senator Rubio to discuss the importance of democracy with leaders from around the region."

Well, if handled properly, it could also help boost his foreign-policy chops.

Reminds us of a foreign jaunt made by another potential vice presidential pick back in 2004. That would be John Edwards, whose criminal trial is set to begin Thursday in Greensboro, N.C.

Edwards is charged with violating campaign finance laws related to the payment by two wealthy donors of nearly $1 million to help hide his pregnant mistress while he was running for president. (What was he going to do with her and the kid if he won?)

Edwards gave a speech in June 2004 at the Bilderberg conference that was widely credited as one reason John Kerrychose him.

Edwards told the uber-secret global power brokers of "the insecurity of American workers that persists even when economic statistics" get better, the New York Times reported. (Might be a theme for Mitt Romneyto pick up on if the economy is improving in the fall.)

Okay. So a nice shouting match with Hugo or Danny, appropriately videotaped, would be excellent.

The stuff that memesare made of

Even Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is embracing the viral "Texts from Hillary" meme - which mashed up a photo of a sunglasses-wearing Clinton with captions that imagine her text conversations with everyone from Mitt Romney to Ryan Gosling. But not everyone was as thrilled, namely, the photographer who snapped the iconic image.

Diana Walker, the award-winning photographer who shot the picture while on assignment with Time magazine, was concerned when her photo started swirling around the Internet. She hadn't been asked, paid or credited for the use of her work, she says.

But the story has a happy ending: The creators of the site finally added a credit line for the photos, and that's enough for Walker.

"I'm following Secretary Clinton's lead and being amused and taken with the idea that this picture is all over the world," she says. Still, she notes, the incident underscores the conflictsbetween photographers, who want to control their work, and the wide world of the Internet, where everything seems free. "There needs to be a dialogue about this," she says.

Walker insists that she didn't realize how powerful the image would be when she captured the black-and-white photo, which she - along with Reuters photographer Kevin Lamarque, who shot a color version that's also being used on the Tumblr site - took during a flight to Libya late last year.

And she wishes that people who want to grab photos from the Internet and use them for their own purposes would make an effort to contact their creators. "Before they used it, how about a call to me?" she asked. But, she admits, that might have resulted in no such memorable meme. "I'm not sure I would have said yes."

Stop calling them 'rich'

This week's Loop Quote of the Week award goes to former president George W. Bush, who reminds us to use the proper terminology when referring to certain Americans who have more access to money than other Americans do.

Bush spoke Tuesday at a tax-policy conferencein New York hosted by his presidential institute.

"If you raise taxes on the so-called rich, you're really raising taxes on the job creators," he explained. So if you want "private-sector growth," the best thing to do "is to leave capital in the treasuries of the job creators," Bush said.

We thought those folks were called "rich" because, well, they are. But that, apparently, is not the proper term. They are the "job creators." So President Obama's deplorable class-warfare rhetoric pits the so-called poor and middle classes against the job-creator class.

And don't try to sneak around that by calling them wealthy, bigwigs, plutocrats, oligarchs, fat cats, tycoons or robber barons.

They are the true working class, going 24-7 to create jobs for you and other ingrates.

kamena@washpost.com

With Emily Heil

The blog: washingtonpost.com/intheloop; Twitter: @InTheLoopWP

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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

DISTRIBUTION: Every Zone

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The Washington Times

April 12, 2012 Thursday

Inside the Beltway

BYLINE: By Jennifer Harper THE WASHINGTON TIMES

SECTION: A, NATION; Pg. 2

LENGTH: 979 words

GINGRICH SOLDIERS ON

Despite a hair-raising week, Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich now bills himself as "the last conservative standing," touting a crowded agenda that defies gleeful coverage claiming that he's out of money and low on voter favorability. Mr. Gingrich campaigns Thursday in Delaware, hosting town halls and appearing on local talk radio. Then it's on to the real big show.

On Friday, he arrives in St. Louis for the annual National Rifle Association convention, serving as a keynote speaker for the "Celebration of American Values Conference." Mr. Gingrich has much company for the afternoon event. Also appearing: rival Mitt Romney, former-rival-turned-supporter Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Republican Sens. Roy Blunt and Chuck Grassley, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Rep. Darrell E. Issa, plus John Bolton, Ken Blackwell and Oliver North.

Still, the big convention is a family affair. Mr. Gingrich's wife, Callista, also appears at the Women's Leadership Luncheon on Friday for a public "Conversation Off the Campaign Trail," organizers say. Her companion on the dais? That would be Mr. Romney's wife, Ann.

HISTORIC MUDSLINGING

"A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his."

Ronald Reagan on President Jimmy Carter, during the presidential campaign of 1980.

FOOD STAMP GAS

Rep. Allen B. West is disturbed that food stamps buy much more than food these days. "I happened to drive by a gas station in Pompano Beach, Fla., in the heart of Congressional District 22, the district I represent. In front of the gas station were large banners proclaiming, 'We accept EBT SNAP cards.' This is not something we should be proud to promote," the Florida Republican says.

The aforementioned acronym stands for "Electronic Benefit Transfer Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program," a system that allows state governments to provide food and cash benefits through a debit card. Originally created 48 years ago, the program was intended to provide funds for low-income families to buy healthy food, and ultimately boost domestic agriculture. The scope has grown, the lawmaker says.

"Now we see a growing number of businesses in this country, including sit-down and fast food restaurants, standalone and gas station convenience markets, and even pharmacies eager to accept SNAP benefits," Mr. West observes, noting that since President Obama's inauguration, the number of Americans receiving assistance has increased by 45 percent, to 46 million.

"The measure of success for our social safety net programs should be that fewer and fewer Americans must rely on them, not more and more," he adds.

POLITICAL PROWESS

"How much do you know about political parties?" demands the Pew Research Center. Find out how you stand against the rest of America by taking the group's official 13-question "News IQ" quiz here: http://pewresearch.org

BLOOMBERG MOMENT

The legal and cultural complexities following the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin has taken yet another political turn. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has now launched a campaign to challenge "Stand Your Ground" laws that have passed in 25 states

Mr. Bloomberg intends to "reform or repeal Florida-style 'shoot first' laws," he says, and has dubbed his effort "Second Chance on Shoot First." The mayor intends to target state lawmakers who voted for the laws, which he says has led to an increase in justifiable homicides.

Mr. Bloomberg, who is funding the effort himself, has high-profile partners. Among them: the Rev. Al Sharpton, along with Chris Smith, incoming Florida Senate minority leader; National Urban League President Marc H. Morial, NAACP Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Policy Hilary Shelton, Color of Change Executive Director Rashad Robinson, Vote Vets Chairman Jon Soltz and Glenn Ivey, a former federal and state prosecutor for the state of Maryland.

AD EXODUS

Former presidential hopeful Rick Santorum's exit from the 2012 race has generated some collateral damage.

"That sniffling sound you hear is not Rick Santorum's supporters bemoaning his decision Tuesday to pull the plug on his presidential campaign but the managers of the Keystone State's television stations counting the ad dollars they have lost," observes Kathy Kiely, managing editor for the Sunlight Foundation reporting group, a nonprofit that tracks government openness and transparency.

In the recent Wisconsin primary, presidential super PACs alone pumped $3.7 million into the local economy, much of it for media buys, she says. In Florida, they spent $19.1 million; in South Carolina, $8.7 million, in Ohio, $5.1 million.

"Local station managers had to be licking their chops at reports that Mitt Romney was planning to launch a multimillion-dollar ad war to finish Santorum off," Ms. Kiely notes.

POLL DU JOUR

* 85 percent of Americans know that Ronald Reagan was a Republican; 92 percent of Republicans and 88 percent of Democrats know that information.

* 73 percent overall know that Franklin D. Roosevelt was a Democrat; 73 percent of Republicans and 58 percent of Democrats also know it.

* 71 percent overall identify Republicans as "the more conservative" party; 90 percent of Republicans and 62 percent of Democrats agree.

* 68 percent overall know the initials "GOP" are associated with Republicans; 78 percent of Republicans and 71 percent of Democrats know that information.

* 65 percent overall know that the donkey is the Democratic Party symbol; 76 percent of Republicans and 66 percent of Democrats also know it.

* 61 percent overall know that Rep. Nancy Pelosi is a Democrat; 75 percent of Republicans and 59 percent of Democrats also know it.

Source: A Pew Research Center survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted March 29-April 1 and released Wednesday.

* Quizzes, quizzical banter, press releases to jharper@washingtontimes.com

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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The Associated Press

April 13, 2012 Friday 07:50 PM GMT

In Colombia, Obama seeks to focus on US economy

BYLINE: By JULIE PACE and JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press

SECTION: BUSINESS NEWS

LENGTH: 913 words

DATELINE: TAMPA, Fla.

Putting an election year spin on his international agenda, President Barack Obama on Friday cast Latin America's rapid rise as a business opportunity for the U.S. economy. On his way to a regional summit in Colombia, he told voters in Florida, "While I'm in Colombia talking with other leaders, I'm going to be thinking about you."

Obama's stop in Florida, a crucial state in the election, underscored White House efforts to keep the president's three-day trip to the Summit of the Americas focused squarely on the economy, the top issue for voters in a general election now fully under way.

But if some Latin American leaders get their way, Obama will be forced to engage on issues that are less politically palatable in the U.S.; namely, Washington's strained relationship with Cuba and the prospect of legalizing drugs.

The president steered clear of those matters as he kicked off his trip at the Port of Tampa, where about 40 percent of exports go to Latin America. Obama said economic growth in Central and South America has created a booming middle class with money to spend.

"We want them spending money on American-made goods so that American businesses can put more Americans back to work," said Obama, his shirt sleeves rolled up, surrounded by cranes and shipping containers.

Obama's re-election prospects are largely tied to the nation's unemployment rate, which has dipped to 8.2 percent. Yet, the job market remains fragile and millions of Americans are still out of work.

From Tampa, Air Force One continued south to the Colombian colonial-era port city of Cartagena, where the president was joining more than 30 leaders from the Western Hemisphere for the regional summit. Obama was to attend a leaders' dinner at the base of Cartagena's historic Spanish fortress, Castillo San Felipe de Barajas.

Obama's stop in Colombia is emblematic of his election-year foreign travel itinerary, which is limited to the international meetings U.S. presidents traditionally attend. The president had little planned in Cartagena outside the official summit events, except for meetings with some of the summit leaders and a visit to a historic church.

Obama's goal: Get in, get out and don't do anything that can create a political distraction back home.

Still, the president's focus on Latin America this weekend was expected to catch the attention of Hispanics in the U.S., an increasingly important voting bloc, especially in battleground states like Florida, Nevada and Colorado. More than 20 million Hispanics in the U.S. are eligible to vote.

Obama carried 67 percent of the Latino vote over Republican challenger John McCain in the 2008 election. With Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney having staked out a hard-line position on immigration during the GOP primary, the Obama campaign hopes to score overwhelming support from Hispanics again this November.

A Quinnipiac poll conducted earlier this year showed Obama with a sizeable 58 percent to 35 percent lead over Romney among registered Hispanic voters.

In Tampa, Obama acknowledged the commercial ties many Hispanics in the U.S. have with Latin American countries. He announced new initiatives to help Latino-owned small businesses, as well as other U.S. companies, get financing to expand their exports throughout the Western Hemisphere. And he pitched programs to help small businesses link up with foreign partners in the Americas.

The White House sees increases in the U.S. export market as a bright spot in an economic recovery that has weathered plenty of ups and downs. Administration officials say U.S. exports with the Western Hemisphere have grown by about 17 percent since 2010, with Latin America accounting for much of that increase.

Officials say new trade agreements Obama signed last year with Colombia and Panama will further boost U.S. economic ties with the region. Implementation of the Colombian accord is contingent on Colombia's government meeting certain labor rights conditions. The U.S. business community and many Colombian officials are hoping Obama will use his trip to announce that implementation of the trade deal can proceed.

Republicans say Obama allowed the trade agreements to languish during his first two years in office because of pressure from unions, which are generally skeptical of free trade. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said Friday that the delay in passing the trade deals "weakened our relationship with Latin America to the detriment of the national economy and Florida's economy."

The U.S. has continuously sought to block Cuba from the Summit of the Americas, saying the communist-run island does not abide by the meeting's democratic standards. But some Latin American leaders have grown increasingly impatient with the tensions between Washington and Havana and have made a fresh push for Cuba to be included in future meetings.

Obama was likely to be at odds with some regional partners on the issue of drug legalization. Some Latin American leaders increasingly see decriminalization as a possible path for containing the region's violent drug cartels.

The White House says that while Obama does not support decriminalization, he does think the debate is worth having, if only to highlight the problems that would arise from legalizing drugs.

Kuhnhenn reported from Tampa, Pace reported from Cartagena, Colombia. AP Deputy Director of Polling Jennifer Agiesta in Washington contributed to this report.

Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC.

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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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CNN Wire

April 13, 2012 Friday 10:30 PM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 3498 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Maggie Leung- 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

North-Korea-Launch (will update)

The U.N. Security Council met Friday to discuss North Korea's botched rocket launch amid concerns that the secretive and often unpredictable regime will try to recover from its embarrassing failure with a nuclear test or military move.

Florida-Teen-Shooting (will update)

George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, will ask to get out of jail on bond while he awaits trial, his attorney said Friday.

Syria-Unrest (will update)

Syrians poured into the streets after Friday prayers, chanting and raising opposition flags in a major test of a fragile cease-fire implemented a day earlier to end a bloody government crackdown.

ENT-Lionel-Richie-Tax-Lien

The IRS has issued a tax lien against singer Lionel Richie for unpaid taxes, the performer said through his publicist. "I was recently made aware of the situation by my new team and it's being handled immediately," Richie said.

Guinea-Bissau-Coup-Attempt (will update)

Guinea-Bissau's military has arrested acting President Raimundo Pereira and Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Jr., a military spokesman said, in a coup that has drawn widespread condemnation from the international community.

Oklahoma-Shootings (will update)

An Oklahoma district attorney on Friday filed a host of charges -- including murder and malicious harassment, which is a hate crime in the state -- against two men accused of fatally shooting three people last week in Tulsa.

GSA-Scandal-Neely

A top official at the scandal-plagued General Services Administration is now facing the prospect of a federal criminal investigation, CNN confirmed Friday.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

TOP STORIES

North-Korea-Launch

Defying warnings from the international community, North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Friday, but it broke apart before escaping the earth's atmosphere and fell into the sea, officials said. The U.N. Security Council is expected to meet Friday to discuss the launch, which North Korea insists was intended to put an observation satellite in orbit. The United States, South Korea and Japan say the operation is a cover for a ballistic missile test.

Florida-Teen-Shooting

Syria-Unrest

Syrians poured into the streets after Friday prayers, chanting and raising opposition flags in a major test of a fragile cease-fire implemented a day earlier to end a bloody government crackdown.

INTERNATIONAL

North-Korea-Launch-Kim

When it comes to North Korea, nothing is ever clear. You can double down on that bet when it comes to trying to foresee what the catastrophic failure of its rocket launch means for the country's new ruler and his military. North Korea experts say how Kim Jong Un reacts to this humiliating setback, however, could be an open window into the strength of his hold on leadership.

North-Korea-Strategy

After North Korea's failed satellite launch in defiance of the international community, U.S. officials and experts say the Obama administration could move away from a policy of engagement toward one of containment.

North-Korea-neighbor-reaction

The North Korean rocket launch that threw its neighbors in the Asian region into high alert was greeted with relief on Friday as previously jittery stock markets gained ground and bans on activities in its projected flight path were relaxed. Meanwhile, China state media labeled Japanese missile defense plans against the launch as a "pretext" to contain Beijing.

North-korea-journalists

It finally happened. North Korea launched its rocket early Friday -- for about a minute at least. But we were the last to know. The assembled Western media were not told about the launch. There was no indication it was taking place. Then word started spreading that South Korean media were reporting that the launch had taken place but failed, the rocket falling into the sea shortly after takeoff.

North-Korea-Launch-Why

With North Korea's launch of a rocket that most see as cover for a ballistic missile test, a deal to resume food aid from the United States now dead, the loud chorus from the international community that was already condemning the act as an unnecessary provocation is only likely to grow louder in the coming days.

North-Korea-nuclear-test

It was meant to be a show-stopping display of military might, a rocket poised to enter orbit to celebrate 100 years since the birth of the man who founded North Korea. But while the rapid disintegration of Unha-3 may have drawn sighs of relief from countries along its planned trajectory, one analyst says in this case failure may be more dangerous than success.

Guinea-Bissau-Coup-Attempt

Iran-Nuclear

Iranian nuclear negotiators arrived Friday and began consultations with Chinese and Russian counterparts on the eve of international talks on the country's nuclear program, state media reported.

Iran-Ebadi

"If you can't eliminate injustice, at least tell everyone about it." The Persian proverb opens a book about the Iranian revolution by Shirin Ebadi, a human rights lawyer who became the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003. But there could not be a more appropriate line to sum up Ebadi's own life.

Denmark-Terror-Trial

Four people accused in what officials describe as the most serious Islamist terrorist plot ever hatched in Scandinavia went on trial Friday in Copenhagen.

Israel-aerial-flotilla-protest

Israeli security forces are preparing to deport hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists expected to arrive at the country's main international airport beginning Sunday to protest Israel's policies in the occupied West Bank.

Pakistan-Bin-Laden-Widows

Pakistan will deport the widows and children of terrorism mastermind Osama bin Laden to Saudi Arabia next week, their attorney said Friday.

Colombia-Summit-Of-The-Americas

Regional summits are most often perfunctory events where presidents share their visions, sign agreements and pose for photographs. At the sixth Summit of the Americas, some Latin American leaders hope to sway -- or at least challenge -- the priorities of the hemisphere's largest power, the United States. The leaders of some Latin American countries are expected to challenge the conventional wisdom that the way to deal with illegal drug trafficking is with firepower. Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina and others are offering serious alternatives, such as legalization.

POL-Summit-of-the-Americas

President Barack Obama landed in Cartagena, Colombia, Friday, opening a weekend visit that will mark the most time a U.S. president has spent in that country, where security concerns had limited previous presidential trips.

France-Sarkozy-Profile

Until last month the conventional wisdom was that Nicolas Sarkozy would fail in his bid for a second term as French president. Mocked for his lavish lifestyle, and a private life that saw him divorce his second wife immediately after his election in 2007 and go on to marry singer Carla Bruni, the French have never warmed to "Sarko." He is often known as "quel q'un qui derange," someone who drives you crazy. The reason for their mixed feelings about Sarkozy is his apparent desire to ruffle feathers and challenge the established order. His presidency has been in constant motion: the 35-hour week? Sarkozy worked against it. Delay the retirement age beyond 60? Sarkozy achieved it, despite strikes and demonstrations. A bloated public sector? Sarkozy eliminated 160,000 civil service jobs. None of these reforms was universally popular and some, at least initially, were almost universally condemned. But Sarkozy believed them necessary and persisted in his belief that his countrymen would come round to his way of thinking. However, as the eurozone crisis swirled, the president received a jolt in January when one of the world's top credit ratings agencies, Standard & Poor's, downgraded France's rating from the maximum Triple A status. Sarkozy's main rival, center left candidate Francois Hollande, launched a scathing attack on the government's policies, saying: "We are no longer in the first division."

Germany-Train-Crash

Three people died and 13 were injured when a German commuter train collided with a maintenance crane Friday morning, German police said.

Germany-Incest-Court

A German man sent to prison over an incestuous relationship with his sister has lost his case that the conviction violated his right to a private and family life at the European Court of Human Rights.

Sudans-UN-Demand

The U.N. Security Council has called for an immediate end to the escalating conflict between Sudan and South Sudan over a disputed oil-rich border region. The border clashes have threatened to return the neighbors to a full-scale war.

Myanmar-Britain-Cameron

British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in Myanmar Friday on the first visit by a high-profile Western leader to the nation in decades.

MONEY-China-Gdp

China's economic growth lost more momentum at the beginning of the year, but experts aren't too worried that the slowdown will continue for long.

Cairo-pigeon-breeders-politics

On a rooftop high above Cairo, Moustafa Hassan tenderly cares for his babies -- all 350 of them. Hassan keeps a rooftop loft with both racing and "fancy" pigeons, and his birds are like family to him. "This is my son," he said, picking up his favorite pigeon. "I deal with all the pigeons like my son or my children."

SPORT-motorsport-f1-bahrain-ecclestone

Should sport and politics mix? Bernie Ecclestone has told CNN that they should not -- and that is why he is happy for Bahrain to host a Formula One race next weekend despite protests from human rights groups unhappy with the kingdom's regime.

U.S.A.

Alaska-Coast-Guard-Shooting

State and federal authorities are investigating the apparent double homicide of two Coast Guard members shot dead on an island off Alaska's coast, prompting the lockdown of their base and at least one nearby school.

New-Jersey-Mayor-Rescue

Mayor Corey Booker of Newark, New Jersey dashed into a burning building Thursday night to help rescue a trapped woman, an act of heroism that sent him to the hospital.

New-York-Zach-Tomaselli

A man who accused a Syracuse University assistant basketball coach of sexually molesting him as a child said Friday that it was all a lie.

Virginia-Terror-Sentencing

A Pakistani man living in Virginia was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison for providing material support to the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayyiba.

Oklahoma-Shootings

Ohio-Shooting

An apparent domestic dispute left three people dead at a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant near Cleveland on Thursday, according to Ohio police.

California-Deputy-Killed

A California sheriff's deputy serving an eviction notice was shot and killed Thursday along with a civilian who was helping in the eviction, authorities said. The incident, that occurred in Modesto California, continued late Thursday evening as the alleged shooter barricaded himself into the home and did not leave despite a large blaze erupting there.

Former-CIA-Officer-pleads-not-guilty

A former CIA officer entered a not guilty plea on Friday to charges he gave classified information to reporters and lied to a CIA review board about material in a book he wrote.

US-New-Hampshire-Shooting

A police chief from southeastern New Hampshire who planned to retire in a few days has been shot to death while trying to execute a search warrant, authorities said Friday.

US-Alex-Karras-NFL-Lawsuit

Alex Karras, the former Detroit Lions standout who starred in the 1980s sitcom "Webster" -- and whose wife says is now suffering from dementia -- has joined hundreds of ex-NFL players suing the league over concussion-related injuries.

TRAVEL-TSA-New-Technology

The Transportation Security Administration is unveiling new technology this month at several airports aimed at verifying boarding passes and IDs of passengers.

TECH-apple-mac-virus-fix

Apple says a new software update provides tools to get rid of the so-called "Flashback" virus that has infected hundreds of thousands of Mac computers.

SPORT-Arkansas-Petrino-Crash

The University of Arkansas has suspended a woman whose relationship with former football coach Bobby Petrino came to light after his motorcycle crashed this month, a school spokesman said Friday.

MONEY-Apple-Doj-Ebooks

Apple has responded to an antitrust lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice, saying it fostered, not quelled, competition in the electronic publishing industry.

MONEY-Bernanke-Federal-Reserve

The Federal Reserve needs to focus just as heavily on its regulatory role as its monetary policy operations, Chairman Ben Bernanke stressed Friday.

MONEY-Carriercompare

A new app hit the iTunes store Friday morning that your carrier probably isn't too thrilled about. It's called CarrierCompare. Developed by Boston-based startup SwayMarkets, it allows you to see which carrier offers the best service for your iPhone in any given location.

MONEY-Tax-Day-April-17

Tax Day is drawing near, but you still have a little time left to get your return filed to Uncle Sam. While the tax filing deadline typically falls on April 15, this year taxes are due Tuesday, April 17.

MONEY-Foreclosures

The golden age for foreclosure squatters may soon be coming to an end now that the $26 billion mortgage settlement has been approved. The settlement, agreed to by the nation's five largest mortgage lenders, is expected to speed up the foreclosure process by providing stricter guidelines for the banks to follow when repossessing homes.

MONEY-Gas-Prices

After one of the fastest and steepest runups in recent memory, it's possible gasoline prices may have peaked. Retail gas prices fell more than half a cent Friday to a nationwide average just above $3.90 a gallon, according to AAA, continuing a decline started late last week that has shaved almost 4 cents off the price of gas.

MONEY-Stocks

U.S. stocks stumbled Friday, following a two-day rally, closing lower for a second straight week with the worst declines of the year.

POL-Religious-Freedom-Campaign

The Roman Catholic Church announced a major campaign Thursday aimed at bringing attention to what it said were growing threats to religious liberty in the United States, including the pending White House rule requiring health insurance companies to provide free contraceptive coverage to employees of Catholic organizations.

POL-West-Communist-Controversy

Standing by his controversial remarks this week targeting certain members of Congress as communists, Republican Rep. Allen West of Florida called on supporters Friday to donate toward his fight against "extreme left-wing positions."

ELECTION 2012

POL-Campaign-Wrap

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney told a conservative audience what it wanted to hear Friday, accusing President Barack Obama of leading the country away from the founding fathers' vision and "toward limited freedom and limited opportunity."

MONEY-Obama-Tax-Return

President Obama and the first family saw their income drop by almost $1 million in 2011 as sales from his best-selling books slowed.

MONEY-Obama-Secretary-Taxes

Move over Warren Buffett. The White House said Friday that President Obama has a lower effective tax rate than his secretary.

POL-Obama-Romney-Taxes

The fight over how best to tax the American people turned to the personal finances of the two competing presidential candidates Friday, as President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden released their 2011 tax returns and called for all-but-certain GOP nominee Mitt Romney to do the same.

POL-Romney-Florida-Obama

Florida surrogates for the likely GOP presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, gave a not-so-warm welcome to President Barack Obama ahead of his visit to the Sunshine State on Friday.

POL-Romney-NRA-Speech

In his first major speech to conservatives since his Republican rival Rick Santorum quit the presidential race, Mitt Romney turned his sights on the general election and accused President Barack Obama of waging "an assault on our freedoms."

POL-Romney-North-Korea

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney condemned the launch of a long-range rocket by North Korea, saying it puts the region at risk and highlights the "incompetence" of the Obama administration.

POL-Romney-Buchanan--Response

A Republican strategist is defending Hilary Rosen following her controversial comment that Ann Romney has "never worked a day in her life." About 24 hours after Rosen made the comment, drawing the rebuke of Democrats and Republicans alike, Bay Buchanan has come to her rescue. Rosen has since apologized for the comment.

POL-Romney-Hilary-Rosen

Mitt Romney made his first public remarks Friday on the controversy over a top Democratic strategist criticizing his wife for her pasta stay-at-home mother.

POL-Romney-Speech-General-Election

Mitt Romney's speech Friday to the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting in St. Louis will be mark the launch of the general election campaign against President Barack Obama, his advisers said.

POL-Crossroads-Ad-Obama

American Crossroads, a conservative super PAC, announced its latest ad buy against President Barack Obama on Friday, taking a swing at the administration's coal industry policies.

POL-RNC-March-Fundraising

The Republican National Committee said Friday it raised $13.7 million in March, the highest monthly amount the group has pulled in during the 2012 election cycle.

FEATURES

ENT-Pitt-Jolie-Engaged

Angelina Jolie, 36, and Brad Pitt, 48, a Hollywood megastar couple since 2005, are engaged, Pitt's representative said Friday.

MED-miracle-baby-medical-theories

A premature baby - who was declared dead shortly after birth - was later discovered to be alive after spending 10 hours in a morgue refrigerator. How did this happen?

MED-side-effects-sports-fan

Brad Hampson, a 41-year-old pharmacist who lives in Chicago, is not the kind of sports fan who loses his temper when his team gets beaten. But the outcome of a game definitely can affect his mood. Watching the Nationals beat the Cubs on opening day at Wrigley Field was "heartbreaking" for Hampson, a lifelong Cubs fan. "I'm upset when they lose and happy when they win," said Hampson, who has traveled to almost every current major ballpark in the United States. Hampson loves all sports, but says baseball is his favorite. "It's a pleasant diversion -- at least when they are winning."

TRAVEL-National-Mall-Designs

How about an ice skating rink on the National Mall, just a stone's throw from the Lincoln Memorial? Or a new, expanded outdoor amphitheater next to the Washington Monument, where people sit on the grass and watch a performance?

TECH-Draw-Something-app-appeal

Chris Pirillo is many things: a self-proclaimed geek, a blogger, an entrepreneur -- and according to him, an average gamer. The 38-year-old founder of blogging network Lockergnome loves the casual game. The pick-it-up, put-it-down, stress-free app.

US-petrino-social-media

Where have you gone Walter Cronkite, and why have you been replaced by the likes of woopig.net? Well, at least in the world of sports journalism. Bobby Petrino is no longer calling Hogs at the University of Arkansas, because somebody by the handle of "hoggrad" on that popular woopig.net website for Razorback fans first reported that the Arkansas football coach wasn't exactly watching game film that evening.

US-My-View:-Why-libraries-matter-more-than-ever

Why libraries matter more than ever

Mountain-gorillas-rwanda-inside-africa

Hidden high among the forested volcanoes of central Africa, the mountain gorilla was unknown to science until 1902, when two were first encountered by a German explorer -- and promptly killed. It set the tone for the relationship. For much of the time since, due to deforestation and poaching, it has seemed the mountain gorilla was swiftly destined to be lost to the world again. Not long after the species' greatest champion, the American zoologist Dian Fossey, was killed in Rwanda in 1985, there were fewer than 300 of the giant primates left in the wild.

FEA-hollywood-ruins-myths

When Hollywood gets in the way of a perfectly good myth

FEA-japan-maid-culture

Cuteness is served: Exploring Japan's maid culture

COMMENTARY-Ghitis-North-Korea

North Korea's message to Washington and Iran.

COMMENTARY-matalin-hilary-rosen

Obama campaign quick to condemn a loyal supporter.

COMMENTARY-Garcia-Cuban-Americans-Guillen

Is Castro Cuban-Americans' Hitler?

LOAD-DATE: April 14, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The Outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

54 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 13, 2012 Friday 6:32 PM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 3237 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editors Maggie Leung- 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

POL-Campaign-Wrap (will update)

After a war over women dominated presidential politics this week, the campaign focus moved to guns and taxes Friday with President Barack Obama releasing his 2011 returns and certain Republican rival Mitt Romney addressing the National Rifle Association convention.

Oklahoma-Shootings (will update)

An Oklahoma district attorney on Friday filed a host of charges -- including murder and malicious harassment based on race -- against two men accused of shooting dead three African-Americans last week in Tulsa.

Iran-Shirin-Ebadi

Iran's Nobel Peace prize winner, Shirin Ebadi, was stripped of her rights as a woman after the Iranian revolution. In an interview Friday, she reflected on the revolts in the Arab world and warned it was too early to judge whether democracy would come to these countries. And of her homeland, she said she remained optimistic that peaceful change would come one day.

North-Korea-Launch (will update)

Florida-Teen-Shooting (will update)

George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, will ask to get out of jail on bond until the charges against him are resolved, his attorney said Friday.

Syria-Unrest (will update)

Syrians poured into the streets after Friday prayers, chanting and raising opposition flags in a major test of a fragile cease-fire implemented a day earlier to end a bloody government crackdown.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

TOP STORIES

North-Korea-Launch

Florida-Teen-Shooting

With the Florida neighborhood watch volunteer jailed on a charge of second-degree murder in the shooting death of an unarmed black teen, the next big question: What now?

Syria-Unrest

Syrians poured into the streets after Friday prayers, chanting and raising opposition flags in a major test of a fragile cease-fire implemented a day earlier to end a bloody government crackdown.

INTERNATIONAL

Syria-Unrest

Syrians poured into the streets after Friday prayers, chanting and raising opposition flags in a major test of a fragile cease-fire implemented a day earlier to end a bloody government crackdown.

Guinea-Bissau-Coup-Attempt

Guinea-Bissau's military has arrested acting President Raimundo Pereira and Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior during an apparent coup, said Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

North-Korea-Launch

North-Korea-Strategy

North-Korea-neighbor-reaction

North-korea-journalists

North-Korea-Launch-Why

North-Korea-media-openness

North-Korea-nuclear-test

Iran-Nuclear

Iranian nuclear negotiators arrived Friday and began consultations with Chinese and Russian counterparts on the eve of international talks on the country's nuclear program, state media reported.

Denmark-Terror-Trial

Four people accused in what officials describe as the most serious Islamist terrorist plot ever hatched in Scandinavia went on trial Friday in Copenhagen.

Israel-aerial-flotilla-protest

Pakistan-Bin-Laden-Widows

Pakistan will deport the widows and children of terrorism mastermind Osama bin Laden to Saudi Arabia next week, their attorney said Friday.

Colombia-Summit-Of-The-Americas

France-Sarkozy-Profile

Cairo-pigeon-breeders-politics

Germany-Train-Crash

Three people died and 13 were injured when a German commuter train collided with a maintenance crane Friday morning, German police said.

Germany-Incest-Court

Sudans-UN-Demand

Myanmar-Britain-Cameron

British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in Myanmar Friday on the first visit by a high-profile Western leader to the nation in decades.

POL-Summit-of-the-Americas

President Barack Obama's trip to Cartagena, Colombia, will be historic from the moment Air Force One touches down on Friday. His weekend visit will mark the longest time a U.S. president will have spent in that country, where security concerns had limited previous presidential trips.

MONEY-China-Gdp

China's economic growth lost more momentum at the beginning of the year, but experts aren't too worried that the slowdown will continue for long.

SPORT-motorsport-f1-bahrain-ecclestone

U.S.A.

Florida-Teen-Shooting

New-Jersey-Mayor-Rescue

Mayor Corey Booker of Newark, New Jersey dashed into a burning building Thursday night to help rescue a trapped woman, an act of heroism that sent him to the hospital.

SPORT-Arkansas-Petrino-Crash

The University of Arkansas has suspended a woman whose relationship with former football coach Bobby Petrino came to light after his motorcycle crashed this month, a school spokesman said Friday.

Former-CIA-Officer-pleads-not-guilty

A former CIA officer entered a not guilty plea on Friday to charges he gave classified information to reporters and lied to a CIA review board about material in a book he wrote.

US-Alex-Karras-NFL-Lawsuit

POL-Religious-Freedom-Campaign

POL-West-Communist-Controversy

MONEY-Apple-Doj-Ebooks

Apple has responded to an antitrust lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice, saying it fostered, not quelled, competition in the electronic publishing industry.

MONEY-Bernanke-Federal-Reserve

The Federal Reserve needs to focus just as heavily on its regulatory role as its monetary policy operations, Chairman Ben Bernanke stressed Friday.

MONEY-Carriercompare

MONEY-Tax-Day-April-17

MONEY-Foreclosures

MONEY-Gas-Prices

US-New-Hampshire-Shooting

A police chief from southeastern New Hampshire who planned to retire in a few days has been shot to death while trying to execute a search warrant, authorities said Friday.

Ohio-Shooting

An apparent domestic dispute left three people dead at a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant near Cleveland on Thursday, according to Ohio police.

California-Deputy-Killed

Summit-of-the-Americas

ELECTION 2012

POL-Campaign-Wrap

MONEY-Obama-Tax-Return

President Obama and the first family saw their income drop by almost $1 million in 2011 as sales from his best-selling books slowed.

POL-Obama-Romney-Taxes

POL-Romney-Florida-Obama

Florida surrogates for the likely GOP presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, gave a not-so-warm welcome to President Barack Obama ahead of his visit to the Sunshine State on Friday.

POL-Romney-NRA-Speech

America's gun laws, brought into sharp relief this spring after the fatal shooting of an unarmed teenager in Florida, will be the focus of likely GOP nominee Mitt Romney Friday at the annual meeting of the powerful National Rifle Association.

POL-Romney-North-Korea

POL-Romney-Buchanan--Response

POL-Romney-Speech-General-Election

Mitt Romney's speech Friday to the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting in St. Louis will be mark the launch of the general election campaign against President Barack Obama, his advisers said.

POL-Crossroads-Ad-Obama

American Crossroads, a conservative super PAC, announced its latest ad buy against President Barack Obama on Friday, taking a swing at the administration's coal industry policies.

FEATURES

MED-miracle-baby-medical-theories

A premature baby - who was declared dead shortly after birth - was later discovered to be alive after spending 10 hours in a morgue refrigerator. How did this happen?

MED-side-effects-sports-fan

TRAVEL-National-Mall-Designs

TECH-Draw-Something-app-appeal

US-petrino-social-media

Mountain-gorillas-rwanda-inside-africa

COMMENTARY-Ghitis-North-Korea

North Korea's message to Washington and Iran.

COMMENTARY-matalin-hilary-rosen

Obama campaign quick to condemn a loyal supporter.

COMMENTARY-Garcia-Cuban-Americans-Guillen

Is Castro Cuban-Americans' Hitler?

LOAD-DATE: April 14, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The Outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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CNN Wire

April 13, 2012 Friday 2:14 PM EST

Obama campaign quick to condemn a loyal supporter

BYLINE: By Mary Matalin, CNN Contributor

LENGTH: 656 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

Editor's note: Mary Matalin, a Republican strategist, is a CNN political contributor. She has worked for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush and was counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney.

(CNN) -- Every syllable that could have possibly been uttered on Rosen v. Romney, the latest offshoot of the demonstrably dopey Democrat-fabricated "War on Women" has already been said.

So this post is not a reiteration of what every common-sense person knows, regardless of their party affiliation:

First and foremost: Ann Romney is a quiet hero, a woman of indomitable fortitude and the epitome of a proud and productive modern woman; (2) President Barack Obama's policies hurt women equally, if not worse than, all Americans. (3) Whether they work in or out of the home, women have more contact with the real-world everyday problems the president's policies have made worse -- from the rising cost of daily staples -- including but not limited to, energy, groceries and health care premiums -- to the plummeting value of their homes and retirement, to a job-stifling recovery with the velocity of a belly crawl.

And the liberal Potemkin Village philosophy has long been exposed: Liberal feminism is not -- and never has been about -- promoting and effectuating policies that provide options and opportunity for all American women; it has always been about divisive identity politics and mindless, spineless group think.

What has been less explored is how Obama Democrats and apparatchiks lack a fundamental ethic of good campaigns, (not to mention, good people): loyalty and dare I say it ... fairness.

There are plenty of vicious, hateful, vacuous liberals who regularly vomit venomous, vile diatribes against anyone remotely associated with a conservative thought. Hilary Rosen is not one of those liberals.

High ranking among those kind of loudmouth liberals are some of her "Kumbaya" comrades who drop-kicked her under an 18-wheeler for uncharacteristically using poorly chosen punditry one-tenth of 1% as egregious as their putrid hourly utterances.

Rosen is a liberal to be sure, but in my work with her on CNN and when she is a substitute host for Arianna Huffington on our radio show, "Both Sides Now," she is consistently a civil and articulate advocate of her philosophy. She has even been known to concede a capitalist point now and then!

Rosen is a big girl and knows politics ain't beanbag, but she deserved some face-saving space and time to come to the only right conclusion -- to apologize to Mrs. Romney for saying she "had never worked a day in her life" -- which were she her own client, she would have demanded immediately, as she is one smart cookie.

Yet before the commercial break, the Obama high command was in high dudgeon. Let's do a little exercise in decoding Obama-world: Have you ever seen them horsewhip a blundering man with the ferocity they laid into Rosen? A bit of irony in the War on Women world, no?

Just for comparison's sake to make my point about the character of an operation, when I made a notoriously stupid blunder (one of too many to count) in the Bush 41 campaign, and the chattering classes' hairs were ablaze demanding my immediate tar-and-feathering, President Bush himself called me and told me to keep fighting, and to make just a tad fewer wild throws; he put out the word that our own staff was to lay off.

This is all insider stuff, and likely of little interest to the wider CNN audience, but here is the point, which every political veteran will recognize: The character of a campaign flows from the top; it is a reflection of the values of the leadership. While relentlessly extolling how caring and fair it is about every last citizen, when it came to its own foxhole sister, the Obama team showed its true character.

Join us at Facebook/CNNOpinion.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Mary Matalin.

LOAD-DATE: April 14, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: Corrected spelling of "Kumbaya" in 7th para, 10:14 am

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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CNN Wire

April 13, 2012 Friday 7:34 AM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 3557 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Ed Payne - 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

New-Jersey-Mayor-Rescue (4 a.m.)

Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Cory Booker ran into a burning home Thursday night to try and rescue a trapped woman, an act of heroism that sent him to the hospital.

Ohio-Shooting (4 a.m.)

Ohio Police shot and killed a gunman at a restaurant near Cleveland Thursday evening, where two people were killed in an apparent domestic dispute, authorities said.

North-Korea-Launch (will update)

Defying warnings from the international community, North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Friday, but it broke apart before escaping the earth's atmosphere and fell into the sea, officials said.

Florida-Teen-Shooting (will update)

Syria-Unrest (will update)

Syrian troops clashed with defecting soldiers Friday near the border with Turkey in an apparent violation of an internationally- brokered cease-fire, opposition activists said.The cease-fire went into effect Thursday.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

TOP STORIES

North-Korea-Launch

Defying warnings from the international community, North Korea launched a long-range rocket on Friday, but it broke apart before escaping the earth's atmosphere and fell into the sea, officials said.

Florida-Teen-Shooting

Syria-Unrest

The world turned a skeptical eye toward Syria on Thursday after a truce cast relative calm over restive cities and towns previously pounded by government forces.

INTERNATIONAL

North-korea-journalists

Argentina-Baby-Survivor

A premature baby who survived hours in a morgue refrigerator in Argentina was in "very serious" condition after doctors detected an infection, state media reported. The infection could compromise Luz Milagros Veron's neurological system and kidney function, the Telam news agency reported Thursday.

Peru-Hostages

North-Korea-Launch-Why

North-Korea-media-openness

POL-Summit-of-the-Americas

President Barack Obama's trip to Cartagena, Colombia, will be historic from the moment Air Force One touches down on Friday. His weekend visit will mark the longest time a U.S. president will have spent in that country, where security concerns had limited previous presidential trips.

MONEY-China-Gdp

China's economic growth lost more momentum at the beginning of the year, but experts aren't too worried that the slowdown will continue for long.

Denmark-Terror-Trial

Four Swedish nationals will stand trial in Copenhagen Friday in what officials describe as the most serious ever Islamist terrorist plot in Scandinavia. The alleged plot, which counter-terrorism officials in the United States and Scandinavia believe was directed by al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan, targeted Jyllands Posten, the Copenhagen-based newspaper responsible for publishing controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

ivan-watson-q-and-a

Pakistan-US-Relations

Mali-Revolt

Africa has seen some ugly divorces in recent times: Eritrea and Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan. Now Mali is threatened with partition as a rebellion flares in the north and political uncertainty grips the capital, Bamako. Mali's neighbors and western governments are looking on anxiously as drug traffickers and Islamist groups affiliated with al Qaeda take advantage of the vacuum -- in a region already blighted by hunger, poverty and weak government.

Yemen-Militants-Clashes

Egypt-Elections

Egypt's Parliament unanimously passed a bill Thursday that aims to ban former members of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak's regime from running for president for 10 years.

Munch-The-Scream-London

Edvard Munch's "The Scream" -- "the world's most stolen work of art" -- has gone on display in London ahead of its sale in New York next month, where it is expected to fetch more than $80 million.

SPORT-Motorsport-Bahrain-Schumacher-Webber

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher has dismissed security fears ahead of next week's Bahrain Grand Prix.

South-Korea-Elections

A day after her ruling Saenuri (or New Frontier) party won a majority in general elections, Park Geun-hye, its leader and likely presidential candidate, pledged that people's lives will get better.

UK-US-Hacking-Claims

UK-Met-Police-Hacking

Pakistan-US-Relations

Mali-Unrest

Mali's new interim president vowed that he would not let the country be split by rebels as he was sworn in Thursday, restoring the country to civilian rule after a brief military coup.

U.S.A.

California-Deputy-Killed

New-Jersey-Mayor-Rescue

Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Cory Booker ran into a burning home Thursday night to try and rescue a trapped woman, an act of heroism that sent him to the hospital.

Summit-of-the-Americas

Florida-Teen-Shooting-Next

What's happens now that Zimmerman is charged in Trayvon Martin death?

Florida-Shooting-Charge

Florida-Zimmerman-Jail

US-Trayvon-Case-Rodney-King

When Florida authorities announced they were charging George Zimmerman with second degree murder in the killing of unarmed Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, Rodney King told CNN he was not surprised.

Florida-Anthony-Gonzalez

Pennsylvania-Sandusky-Abuse-Case

Alaska-Coast-Guard-Shootings

Two Coast Guard members have been shot dead on an island off Alaska's coast, prompting the lockdown Thursday of their base and at least one nearby school.

Massachusetts-Terror-Conviction

Indiana-State-Fair-Reports

Connecticut-Death-Penalty

Kentucky-Gay-Hate-Crime-Case

Two Kentucky men pleaded not guilty Thursday to kidnapping and assaulting a gay man because of his sexual orientation, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

DC-National-Mall

Proposed pavilions and pools would spruce up National Mall

US-New-Hampshire-Shooting

Law enforcement were engaged Thursday night in "an active, armed standoff" with two people inside a southeastern New Hampshire home where, hours earlier, one police officer was killed and four others wounded, the state's attorney general said.

US-Humane-Society-Chicken-Farm

The Humane Society released Thursday what it says is video showing gruesome images of many dead chickens -- and in some cases, mummified chicken carcasses -- at a farm in southeastern Pennsylvania.

US-New-Hampshire-Rwanda-Trial

US-New-York-Suspicious-Package

US-John-Edwards-Trial

Jury selection begins in a Greensboro, North Carolina, federal courtroom Thursday in the trial of 2008 Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards.

TECH-angry-birds-virus-android

Virus found in fake Android version of 'Angry Birds: Space'

TRAVEL-JetBlue-Pilot

ELECTION 2012

POL-Romney-North-Korea

POL-Romney-Buchanan--Response

POL-Campaign-Wrap

A Democratic strategist apologized Thursday for a comment questioning Ann Romney's qualifications to advise her husband on women's economic issues, while the Romney campaign sought to exploit the controversy to help fix a gender gap problem in the race against President Barack Obama.

POL-Biden-Romney-New-Hampshire

POL-Obama-Biden-Swing-States

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden tag team Thursday as they continue their push for the so-called "Buffett Rule," and they're making their pitches in crucial battleground states.

POL-Romney-Social-Conservative-Groups

Two leading national anti-abortion organizations Thursday endorsed Republican Mitt Romney for president.

POL-Romney-Mormon-Issue

POL-2012-New-Jersey

POL-Barbour-Romney-2012

Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has no plans to formally endorse Mitt Romney now that his fiercest challenger, Rick Santorum, is no longer in the presidential race.

POL-Biden-Romney-New-Hampshire

POL-Michelle-Obama-Ann-Romney

Michelle Obama became the latest high-profile figure to weigh in on the stirring controversy over comments made against Ann Romney.

POL-Romney-Surrogate-Charity

POL-Obama-Romney-Ad

Maybe you've heard the president's top aides call Mitt Romney the "godfather" of the Obama health care law? Now the Obama campaign is out with a web video that drives home their message.

POL-Poll-Michelle-Obama

A new poll released Thursday indicated almost two-thirds of voters continue to have a favorable view of Michelle Obama.

POL-Romney-Health-Law-Anniversary

POL-Rosen-Apology

POL-Rosen-Romney-Reaction

Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen apologized on Thursday for her Wednesday comment about Ann Romney after the controversy went viral and drew bipartisan criticism on Twitter.

POL-Romney-Campaign-Rosen

POL-Obama-Rosen-Ann-Romney

FEATURES

ENT-Gibson-Alleged-Rants

ENT-Alec-Baldwin-Tweet-30Rock

Alec Baldwin tweet causes '30 Rock' fans to worry

ENT-Biggest-Loser-Michelle-Obama

First Lady Michelle Obama racked up major cool points with contestants for "The Biggest Loser" when she hung out with them at the White House.

ENT-Avengers-World-Premiere

ENT-Three-Stooges-Throwback

The Throwback: Greatest hits (and pokes, and nyuks) from 'Three Stooges'

ENT-JKRowling-Adult-Novel-Details

Georgia-Locomotive-Chase

Georgia cities remember madcap 'Great Locomotive Chase' 150 years later

Mammoth-hong-kong

From the ice age to the modern age, a 42,000-year-old baby woolly mammoth debuted on the world stage in Hong Kong.

US-CNNHeroes-Wing-Kovarik-gay-adoption

Breaking down barriers so foster kids can find a family

MED-miracle-baby-medical-theories

TRAVEL-American-Stories-Exhibit

Reinforcing identity and learning more about who we are: That's the theme of "American Stories," a new exhibit now open at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington.

FEA-buffett-secretary-assistant

FEA-spoiler-culture

FEA-Grilled-Cheese-Day

Hot off the press: April 12 is National Grilled Cheese Day!

TRAVEL-American-Stories-Exhibit

Reinforcing identity and learning more about who we are: That's the theme of "American Stories," a new exhibit now open at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington.

TRAVEL-malaysia-airlines-babies

If you want to stir up a fiery debate -- or maybe even a fist fight -- start talking about air travel and children. Inevitably, someone will declare that airlines should offer "kid-free flights."

TRAVEL-Celebrity-Inspired-Getaways

LOAD-DATE: April 14, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The Outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

57 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

Intelligencer Journal/New Era (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)

April 13, 2012 Friday

Time For Rick, Mitt To Play Nice

BYLINE: Tom Murse / Politically Speaking

SECTION: B; Pg. 1

LENGTH: 574 words

DATELINE: Lancaster, PA

Rick Santorum made the right move at the right time.

But just barely.

His campaign is nearly $1 million in debt, and there was no reason for him to endure the reels of negative attack ads awaiting him in Pennsylvania or to risk the humiliation of losing his home state on April 24.

So he quit the race Tuesday.

A day later, a statewide poll of likely Republican voters showed Mitt Romney, who had barely unleashed nearly $3 million in ad spending here, beating him by 4 percentage points.

Santorum, ever defiant, promised to press on in other ways.

"We made a decision over the weekend that while this presidential race for us is over, for me, and we will suspend our campaign today, we are not done fighting," Santorum told supporters in Gettysburg on Tuesday.

But Santorum's job, as of today, is still only half finished.

He has to repair the damage he's done to the presumed nominee.

And if you think there isn't any, a walk around the Good Shepherd Chapel at Lancaster Bible College, where the former U.S. senator spoke later Tuesday, suggested otherwise.

Many Republican voters said they will have a hard time supporting the man Santorum has been calling a "liar" and a "flip-flopper" for the past several months, the man Santorum said would be the "worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama" on the issue of health-care reform.

Words matter.

No, those voters won't vote for President Obama in the fall.

Some just might not vote at all.

Romney and the Republican establishment are now waiting for Santorum to endorse the former Massachusetts governor, to send a signal to evangelicals and tea party conservatives that Romney is their best chance at winning the White House in November.

But, so far, the characteristically stubborn Santorum can't even manage to say Romney's name; he didn't utter it at a private fundraiser in Ephrata on Tuesday, and he didn't use it at the Good Shepherd Chapel, either.

Yo, Rick. Just say it.

Romney.

He's going to be the nominee.

The sooner you endorse him, the better - for both the nominee-in-waiting and for your own future aspirations in the party. But surely you know that.

Romney, for his part, said he fully expects to campaign alongside Santorum.

And soon.

"I expect when I finally become the nominee - I hope that happens soon - that we'll be campaigning together, we'll be working together," Romney said.

Santorum will have the perfect chance, and the perfect setting, to deliver his endorsement to Romney next week, when the two appear at the Republican Committee of Lancaster County's spring banquet in downtown Lancaster.

It will, in fact, be the first time the two Republicans have been in the same room since late March, by my calculation.

It was absolutely fitting that Santorum's first couple of appearances following his decision to quit the race Tuesday were in Lancaster County, where he's always enjoyed support from Republican voters.

He called this the "conservative heartland" of the state.

"When I was a senator from Pennsylvania, I used to come to Lancaster County to recharge my batteries," Santorum told the crowd of about 600 at Lancaster Bible College.

It would be just as fitting, then, for Santorum to step up to the dais in Lancaster this coming Tuesday night, before an expected crowd of some 1,200 Republicans, including Newt Gingrich (who might just get the message himself), and deliver that endorsement.

I believe it will happen.

The timing would be perfect.

tmurse@lnpnews.com

LOAD-DATE: April 14, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: Tom Murse Politically Speaking

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The New York Times

April 13, 2012 Friday
Late Edition - Final

Campaigns Plan Maximum Push to Raise Money

BYLINE: By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE

SECTION: Section A; Column 0; National Desk; Pg. 1

LENGTH: 1128 words

The big money in presidential politics is about to get a whole lot bigger.

Aides and leading donors to Mitt Romney are preparing a major expansion of the campaign's fund-raising efforts to prepare for a general election contest against President Obama, with the goal of raising up to $600 million, according to several people involved in the discussions.

Republican-leaning outside groups and Democratic-leaning unions are planning to spend hundreds of millions more.

And Mr. Obama, who raised $750 million in 2008, is likely to meet or exceed that this year, according to people involved in his fund-raising operation.

Those goals make it virtually certain that neither party's nominee will accept public funds for the general election or the spending limits that come with them -- the likely death knell for a cornerstone of the post-Watergate campaign finance reforms intended to limit the influence of money in federal elections.

Mr. Obama opted out of the public financing program in 2008, breaking a campaign pledge, and went on to outspend the Republican nominee, John McCain, by four to one.

''This is going to be the most moneyed election in the history of the United States,'' said Bob Edgar, the president of Common Cause, a group that favors greater restrictions on campaign spending. Mr. Edgar, a former congressman who was among the Democratic ''Watergate babies'' elected in the wake of the scandal, added, ''There is a sense of coming full circle, of forgetting our history -- the reason we installed a system for financing campaigns that didn't rely on corporate or wealthy money.''

Mr. Obama has already held over a hundred major fund-raisers for his campaign, jointly raising large amounts with the Democratic National Committee, and Mr. Romney is moving quickly to catch up. His campaign is planning dozens of fund-raisers through the end of June, high-dollar events that will feature Mr. Romney as well as the campaign's top allies and other elected officials.

The campaign is setting a goal of raising at least $1 million for most events featuring Mr. Romney personally.

Those efforts will be aided by a new joint fund-raising agreement with the Republican National Committee that allows Mr. Romney to command far larger checks than he has during the primaries, when his campaign was limited to increments of $2,500 or less. Under the agreement, guests at major Romney events will be able to write checks as large as $75,000 to a ''Romney Victory'' committee.

About half of that sum would go Mr. Romney's campaign or the Republican committee, mimicking the arrangement under which Mr. Obama, as an incumbent, has been raising money since last spring for his campaign and the Democratic National Committee. The remainder will be split among Republican state parties in Massachusetts, Idaho, Oklahoma and Vermont -- where party leaders are deemed loyal to Mr. Romney -- and later re-allocated to the most critical battleground states.

''It's going to ramp up dramatically,'' said Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets and one of Mr. Romney's national finance co-chairmen. ''The response I've been getting, of people willing to max out on the victory side, has been very very good, very enthusiastic.''

Restore Our Future, the ''super PAC'' whose millions of dollars in negative advertising helped bury Mr. Romney's Republican rivals, will also shift its focus to the general election, officials familiar with its plans said. The group, which raised more than $43 million through the end of February, is hoping to reach the $100 million mark by the end of the cycle.

The super PAC will also have help from Mr. Romney's allies and backers: Jim Talent, the former United States senator and a key surrogate for Mr. Romney during the primaries, appeared at a Restore Our Future briefing for donors in New York on Wednesday.

And people involved with the group's fund-raising have in recent days approached Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino owner whose family contributed over $16 million to a rival super PAC supporting Newt Gingrich, to consider contributing to Restore Our Future. They have also approached Charles and David Koch, the wealthy conservative businessmen who founded Americans for Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group, according to two people with knowledge of the conversations.

Restore Our Future's political director, Carl Forti, is also an official with American Crossroads, a pro-Republican super PAC that is planning to raise as much as $300 million to spend on the 2012 elections. Federal rules permit the two super PACs to coordinate directly with each other on raising and spending money, and Mr. Romney's allies expect that Crossroads and other outside groups, like Americans for Prosperity, will spend up to $100 million against Mr. Obama.

But people involved in the Romney fund-raising efforts emphasized that much about the plans remained fluid, as both the campaign and officials at outside groups who support Mr. Romney grapple with the new world of super PACs. The PACs are expected to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising this year and have tested programs more traditionally associated with campaigns, like voter identification and turnout.

''This is so different,'' said one Romney adviser, who asked for anonymity to discuss confidential deliberations. ''I think this is uncharted waters.''

Romney advisers said the first wave of attack ads from Mr. Obama's campaign -- which sought to tie Mr. Romney to oil companies -- would soon be countered by commercials from Mr. Romney.

They also suggested that the combined fund-raising would make his campaign competitive with Mr. Obama and other pro-Democratic groups, chiefly unions, which are planning to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on federal, state and local elections this year. Mr. Obama's own supportive super PAC, Priorities USA Action, has had difficulty raising large contributions, though officials there hope they will increase significantly as the general election approaches.

Exactly how much Mr. Obama will raise this year is a matter of speculation and dispute. Mr. Romney's campaign and other Republicans have suggested that Mr. Obama -- the most successful presidential fund-raiser in history -- will bring in a billion dollars, a figure Mr. Obama's campaign has called little more than a myth intended to motivate conservative donors.

Some of Mr. Romney's own donors believe that figure is more likely for Mr. Obama in combination with the Democratic National Committee and other outside groups, like Priorities USA.

In briefings with potential donors, officials at Priorities USA have estimated that Mr. Romney and the Republican National Committee would bring in a combined $750 million, while Restore Our Future would bring in $250 million.

URL: http://www.nytimes.com

LOAD-DATE: April 13, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

59 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

San Jose Mercury News (California)

April 13, 2012 Friday

Peninsula readers' letters: April 14

BYLINE: From Daily News Group readers

SECTION: COMMUNITIES; Peninsula; News; Local

LENGTH: 539 words

Cargill's ruse

Dear Editor: I was amazed but not surprised to find Redwood City Council Member Rosanne Foust publicly advocate on behalf of the Cargill development during the city council meeting this week.

The massively misguided project only got as far as it has because of her strong support for it as mayor in 2008-2009. She was warned by the Fair Political Practices Commission in 2010 not to continue to violate conflict of interest laws. Her remarks this week indicate she has not taken that warning seriously.

Redwood City residents deserve council members who promote the public interest and welfare over corporations. Cargill's fill-the-bay vision under the pretext of "needed affordable housing" is a ruse.

Gloria Maldonado,

Redwood City

Facebook expansion

Dear Editor: Recently a letter suggested possible purchases by Facebook to enhance shareholder value. All good ideas, but perhaps the best would be for Facebook to buy Menlo Park. This would allow the company to build out El Camino Real with residential and commercial uses that complement it and leave the downtown as a quiet local serving village, as intended. Perhaps Mark Zuckerberg would also see fit to synchronize the stoplights through the town as well. A grateful community would then readily buy shares in "their" company. All problems solved.

Leon G. Campbell,

Palo Alto

Ann Romney no 'working mom'

Dear Editor: Ann Romney, who in the past has stated that she finds the whole political process "distasteful," this week said she made a choice to stay home and raise her children. Having been a single, working mother who was also very involved in every aspect of raising my child, I find her recent attempt in coming to the rescue of stay-at-home mothers equally distasteful. Why? Well, if most working mothers, single or married, were worth $250 million and had a staff of 26 to help out with the house and kids, some might consider staying home too.

Equally disturbing is her self-described therapy of "horse riding," which for millionaires is doublespeak for "equestrianism," or "I own a bunch of horses worth more then your house." Yes I know she is a cancer survivor and has multiple sclerosis and God bless her and keep her well. Still, that does not excuse her recent stance of acting like she or Mitt Romney actually care about the struggles of a working mom or for that matter what many stay-at-home moms go through each day.

Toni M. Villa,

Mountain View

Insensitive?

Dear Editor: CNN Democratic pundit Hilary Rosen said that Ann Romney, who was a stay-at-home mother of five, "never worked a day in her life." Democrats, including President and Mrs. Obama, immediately condemned Rosen for her comments.

Almost as fast as the GOP presidential candidates condemned Rush Limbaugh for his "slut" etc. comments. Oh wait, that's right, they didn't. Never mind ...

Janice Hough,

Palo Alto

Double standard

Dear Editor: When Sarah Palin was the Republican vice presidential candidate, she was criticized by the left because she did not stay at home and take care of her children. Now that Mitt Romney is the apparent Republican presidential nominee, the left is criticizing his wife Ann because she did stay at home and take care of her children. Go figure.

Mylan Mann,

Mountain View

LOAD-DATE: April 14, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

60 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

States News Service

April 13, 2012 Friday

FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWS CLIPS - APRIL 13

BYLINE: States News Service

LENGTH: 769 words

DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE, FL

The following information was released by the Florida Democratic Party:

FDP RELEASES NEW VIDEO: "SH** ALLEN WEST SAYS" CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Cue the Cee-Lo: Dems release new web vid, 'Sh** Allen West says' [Miami Herald] "The Florida Democratic Party is portraying Plantation Congressman Allen West as crazy -- both in the words of talking heads and in the underlying music track, "Crazy," by Gnarls Barkley/Cee-Lo"

Florida Dems release 'Sh** Allen West Says' video after 'communist' remarks [The Hill] "The Florida Democratic Party released a video Friday titled "Sh** Allen West Says," in the style of the viral YouTube meme, slamming the Florida congressman for his controversial comments."

Dem video attacks Allen West remarks [Sun Sentinel] "The Florida Democratic Party released an attack video on Friday rounding up some of Allen West's most controversial remarks to try to depict him as an unhinged right-wing radical."

What you might have missed on Allen West: Cold War Update - Alleged Congressional Communists [Colbert Nation]The Tea Party's Allen West spills secret hearsay about some Democratic Congress members.

ALSO BREAKING TODAY: FDP RELEASES MARCH VOTER REGISTRATION DATA, BEATING GOP BY 8 POINTS Fla Dems edge out Republicans in voter registrations last month [Palm Beach Post] "Florida Democrats are picking up steam heading into the general election, beating the GOP in lassoing new voters last month by 8 percent, according to data released by the Florida Democratic Party today."

Race before the race: Fla Dems claiming momentum in voter registration [Orlando Sentinel] "The Florida Democratic Party today released their March voter registration data, claiming an 8-percentage point advantage over what Florida Republicans had done. A release from the Democrats called it a 'further sign that voters are fleeing the GOP.' It stated that Republican trailed Democrats in voter registration for the second consecutive month. Democrats continue to maintain an overall voter registration advantage of 4-percent."

POLITIFACT: CONNIE MACK IV AD "MOSTLY FALSE" Connie Mack says Bill Nelson voted to study monkeys on cocaine [Politifact] "Mack's claim is pretty bananas"Even a critic who calls the project wasteful says you can't blame Nelson. We rate the statement Mostly False."

MEANWHILE"George LeMieux wins another U.S. Senate straw poll [Orlando Sentinel] "GOP U.S. Senate candidate George LeMieux won the East Manatee straw poll today with U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV, who's lead in all the broad voter polls, finishing a distant third after not showing up"LeMieux also recently won two other straw polls, one of a Tea Party convention last month, and one of the Florida Federation of Republican Women earlier this winter."

OBAMA TALKS TRADE IN FLORIDA

Obama keeps message on economy during Florida stop [CNN] "Touching down in the key campaign state of Florida for the second time this week, President Obama pledged to further promote trade with Latin America and unveiled a new federal program to aide small businesses exporting south of the border."

First Lady praises military families on Fla. Stop [AP] "Mrs. Obama visited Naval Air Station Jacksonville as part of the one-year anniversary of her "joining forces" program, which aims to help veterans and their families"

Happy 6th birthday, RomneyCare! Obama's campaign releases video [Miami Herald] "Lots of interesting quotes here. "This is a politicians dream... Romney's people built a stage on top of a stage....Massachusetts is a model for getting everyone insured....'"

OTHER NEWS WE THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Counties agree to sue over state Medicaid repayment law [Times/Herald] "The Florida Association of Counties said Thursday that it will sue the state over a new law that requires counties to pay $323.5 million in disputed Medicaid bills."

FAU students find budget cuts hit home [Sun Sentinel] "At Florida Atlantic University, nearly a third of classes in the normally bustling summer session have been canceled, after the school took a nearly $25 million hit. Florida International University is deferring some maintenance projects and delaying hiring while the University of Florida has asked its departments to cut about 5 percent from their budgets."

Scott gets it wrong [PNJ Editorial] "This week the governor vetoed a bill that passed, on a total vote of 152-4, through one of the more conservative legislatures in the country. Yes, it was a remarkably progressive bill to get through the Florida Legislature, but it just goes to show that you should never give up hope. Of course, governors like Scott seem to exist to squash hope."

LOAD-DATE: April 13, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

61 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

The Washington Post

April 13, 2012 Friday
Suburban Edition

BYLINE: - Chris Cillizza

SECTION: A-SECTION; Pg. A04

LENGTH: 458 words

Beware the recorded word

It's a strategy as old as American politics: You run toward the party base - on the left or right - in the primary and then move to the ideological middle once you become your party's standard-bearer.

But the explosion of video-sharing sites such as YouTube and microblogging technology such as Twitter badly complicates this age-old formula.

Take Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. After being dragged to the ideological right during the primary season by the likes of former senator Rick Santorum and former House speaker Newt Gingrich, Romney is in the early stages of moving back to the center in hopes of courting electorally critical independents.

Nothing new there. But because basically every phrase that Romney uttered during the primary races (and well before that) is available either on YouTube or Twitter, President Obama's reelection team has tons of ammunition as it tries to hold Romney to some of the things he has said in the past.

Wednesday, the Obama campaign released a video splicing together Romney's greatest hits (or, more accurately, misses) from the Republican primaries.

Here's what senior Obama strategist David Axelrod tweeted about the Web ad: "As the GOP primary season closes, lots of enduring memories! (Put another way, video is the enemy of Etch-a-Sketch.)"

Think about what a sea change that video represents. Ten years ago (or maybe even five years ago), the ability for anyone to quickly and easily upload video and share it was nonexistent. Finding quotes - or images - from candidates in obscure places or at anything other than sanctioned campaign events was virtually impossible.

Given those limitations, it was far easier for candidates to put their primary rhetoric behind them when they became the nominee. To call them on contradictions involved A) finding some tape (audio or video) of their remarks, B) persuading a news operation to run it and C) hoping that average voters saw the report. All of those barriers have now fallen.

"Presidential elections reveal the character of the candidates," said Steve Schmidt, John McCain's top aide in the 2008 presidential race. "All of the elaborate strategies designed by the campaigns to obscure the positions, core beliefs and character of the candidates from public view will give way under the intense and unrelenting scrutiny of an interconnected, fast-changing social media universe."

While that brave new world is a complication for Romney in the near term as he seeks to slough off some of the more conservative positions he embraced in the primaries, it's also a potential problem for Obama, who ran on "hope" and "change" in 2008 and, for many, has delivered less of both than they had hoped.

- Chris Cillizza

LOAD-DATE: April 13, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

DISTRIBUTION: Every Zone

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

65 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Massachusetts)

April 14, 2012 Saturday

Milton Bass Politics from afar

SECTION: OPINION

LENGTH: 611 words

Sunday April 15, 2012

The Lively World

RICHMOND

Everybody needs a vacation from whatever they do on a regular basis. Since I have been concentrating on politics for innumerable months, I decided to combine our annual, month-long motor trip to the South with a disregard for the pandemonium of the Republican version of the Four Horsemen that has been occupying all our attentions since Hector was a pup.

It was easier than I thought it was going to be. As a matter of fact, too easy. First of all, discarded newspapers aren't scattered around everywhere as they used to be. At some of the motels, USA Today was either delivered or available in the breakfast room but because you want to resume the road trek as soon as possible, the front page headlines are scrutinized briefly and then the buzzer goes off on the waffle machine.

Secondly, many of our hosts don't get newspapers anymore, relying on their iPhones to keep them up to date. When we hunkered down for the evening, it was past time for the national news shows and in the south they mainly seem interested in local news rather than national or international. As is the case here, crime rules the roost and the warnings were enough to keep us in so-called safe surroundings.

What surprised me most was how many stores had large signs saying "No Cash Over $50." Delivery trucks also had signs saying "We Have No Cash on Board." Cash seems to be in great demand down south.

None of our hosts wanted to talk politics. They were mostly discouraged Democrats but we did have some visits where my wife said, "Don't talk politics" before we went through the door.

On a couple of occasions in restaurants, the people at the next table could be heard discussing the Republican candidates and the gist seemed to be whether they would live up to Tea Party specifications but there was no hullabaloo attached to the discussions.

Meanwhile, on television screens I could see the faces of the Republican candidates but we were always a little too far away to make out what they were saying. By this time they had all repeated their stump speeches so many times that you could almost read their lips. Mitt Romney was saying he was a regular guy just like you, Rick Santorum was saying the world might come to an end if he was not elected and Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul were being good sports.

We did have a surprise in one Delaware town where some fanatic had planted signs for Ron Paul seemingly everywhere. The signs had been hand-lettered with a stencil kit and we could only assume there was a young person with energy who wanted Paul do or die.

The media have given up trying to report the same speeches day after day after day and seem to be spending their time waiting for either a candidate or a member of his staff to make a faux pas. Sad to say, there are more than enough to go around and each one is more ridiculous than the one behind it.

The mega-PACs hand-fashioned by our Supreme Court were in full play wherever we went because if some one's polls dropped a point or two, TV saturation ads would be immediately forthcoming. We would see the same ad time after time after time. It's good to see the billionaires throwing away their money like this but at the same time it's bad because they eventually take it out of our hides.

So now I am back to politics and listening to these guys again. The only difference is that Romney has decided he is the eventual winner and is going after President Barack Obama for his sins. Santorum still considers us a bunch of sinners and Gingrich and Paul are being gentle and nice. But, best of all, I am monitoring them from the Berkshires.

Milton Bass is a regular Eagle
contributor.

LOAD-DATE: April 17, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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CNN Wire

April 14, 2012 Saturday 11:04 AM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 2793 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Samira Jafari - 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

POL-Summit-of-the-Americas (will update)

President Barack Obama is putting an international spin on his domestic economic agenda with planned trade talks at a weekend summit in Colombia, which is bringing together most of the hemisphere's leaders.

Syria-Unrest (will update)

Syrian forces targeted opposition neighborhoods Saturday, activists said, days into a fragile cease-fire aimed at ending a bloody crackdown against anti-government protesters.

US-Midwest-Storms (will update)

A tornado touched down late Friday afternoon in Norman, Oklahoma, bringing scattered structural damage and a taste of more severe weather -- including a tornado outbreak -- expected Saturday in the Plains.

Iran-Nuclear (will update)

Talks got under way Saturday in Turkey between Iran and six world powers, as international diplomats seek to persuade Tehran to rein in its nuclear program. Iran's top negotiator, Saeed Jalili, said ahead of the talks that he intended to bring "new initiatives" to the table.

Colombia-Summit-Secret-Service

Secret Service agents sent to Colombia ahead of President Barack Obama have been relieved of duty and returned home amid allegations of misconduct, officials said. The incident in Cartagena was one of two security issues -- the other involved bomb blasts -- that overshadowed the start of the sixth Summit of the Americas, where the president was to focus on trade, energy and regional security with 33 of the region's 35 leaders.

Titanic-Anniversary-Cruise

Morgan Mullinix was laughed at when she'd tell friends where she was headed. They thought she was crazy when she signed up for the eight-day Titanic Memorial Cruise chartered to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ship's demise. But for the 450 aboard the Azamara Journey, this trip is a once-in-a-a lifetime opportunity. They say it's the closest thing they'll ever have to experiencing what led to the fateful ship's demise on that cold April night in the North Atlantic.

MED-Battery-Powered-Brain

The first time Edi Guyton tried to commit suicide, she was 19 years old, wracked with depression and unable to deal with the social and academic pressure of college. Her depression controlled her life for the next 40 years -- until she decided to volunteer for an experimental treatment. A neurosurgeon would drill two holes in Guyton's skull and implant a pair of battery-powered electrodes deep inside her brain.

FEA-Bubba-Southern-Stereotypes

We've got a Masters champ named Bubba, presidential candidates eating grits, "Deliverance" celebrating 40 years -- and mockery of it all. Why do Southern stereotypes persist?

FEA-Belief-Pilgrimage-Frat-House

A 19-year-old on break from college walks nearly 70 miles to a community of Catholic nuns to pray for a friend, though he's not Catholic or especially religious.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

TOP STORIES

POL-Summit-of-the-Americas

Florida-Teen-Shooting

George Zimmerman's newly hired attorney told CNN's "AC360" on Friday that he didn't initially seek bond for his client because he first needed more time to become familiar with the case.

INTERNATIONAL

Iran-Nuclear

Russia-Wikileaks

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange plans to debut a talk show, "The World Tomorrow," on Russia's state-funded television network next week.

Guinea-Bissau-Coup

A group of Portuguese-speaking countries plans to meet Saturday to discuss a coup that roiled the tiny nation of Guinea-Bissau, plunging it into more chaos after nearly four decades of instability.

North-Korea-Launch-Kim

North-Korea-Strategy

North-Korea-neighbor-reaction

North-korea-journalists

North-Korea-Launch-Why

North-Korea-nuclear-test

Guinea-Bissau-Coup-Attempt

Iran-Ebadi

Bahrain-Clashes

Thousands of mourners defied government forces and took to the streets Friday in Salmabad, Bahrain, to attend the funeral of Ahmed Ismaeel, who was killed last week in anti-government protests, witnesses told CNN.

Yemen-al-Qaeda

Twenty-eight suspected members of al-Qaeda were killed Friday in the city of Lord, in Yemen's Abyan province, in military operations, state media reported.

Denmark-Terror-Trial

Four people accused in what officials describe as the most serious Islamist terrorist plot ever hatched in Scandinavia went on trial Friday in Copenhagen.

Israel-aerial-flotilla-protest

U.S.A.

ENT-California-Latino-Producers

A new cable network for Latino audiences will mark the culmination of two decades of filmmaking for writer-director Robert Rodriguez, who is leading the ambitious effort.

Maryland-Beating-Arrest

Baltimore police say they made an arrest in a violent robbery last month that left a man battered and stripped of his clothes on a street while onlookers laughed and did nothing to help.

Florida-Trayvon-Brother

Trayvon Martin should be remembered as a happy, smiling teenager, says his soft-spoken older brother. Martin, 17, was an honors student who wanted to follow his sibling to college. But his life ended on February 26 in Sanford, Florida, during an encounter with neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman.

Alaska-Coast-Guard-Shooting

State and federal authorities are investigating the apparent double homicide of a U.S. Coast Guard member and a civilian shot dead Thursday on an island off Alaska's coast.

New-Jersey-Mayor-Rescue

To the family of Zina Hodge, the man who dashed into their burning home and pulled their loved one to safety through intense heat, falling embers and dense smoke could just be Superman. But Newark Mayor Cory Booker most definitely did not feel like the Man of Steel on Friday as he recovered from smoke inhalation and second-degree burns suffered during the rescue of his 47-year-old neighbor the previous night.

New-York-Zach-Tomaselli

A man who accused a Syracuse University assistant basketball coach of sexually molesting him as a child said Friday that it was all a lie.

Mississippi-Pardons-DUI-emails

E-mails show that Mississippi governor's office was urged not to pardon Harry Bostick, a convicted DUI felon, who was involved in a crash that killed an 18-year-old.

Kentucky-Hate-Crime

Two Kentucky women have pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a kidnapping and hate-crime assault involving a gay man, the Justice Department announced Friday.

Virginia-Terror-Sentencing

A Pakistani man living in Virginia was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison for providing material support to the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayyiba.

Oklahoma-Shootings

An Oklahoma man said he doesn't hate African-Americans and counts some of them among his best friends. Murder and hate crime charges were filed on Friday accusing him and another man of killing three strangers because they were black.

Ohio-Shooting

An apparent domestic dispute left three people dead at a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant near Cleveland on Thursday, according to Ohio police.

California-Deputy-Killed

A locksmith hired to help in the process of evicting a California tenant was shot dead, along with the sheriff's deputy serving the eviction notice, police said Friday.

Former-CIA-Officer-pleads-not-guilty

A former CIA officer entered a not guilty plea on Friday to charges he gave classified information to reporters and lied to a CIA review board about material in a book he wrote.

US-Midwest-Storms

US-New-Hampshire-Shooting

A police chief from southeastern New Hampshire who planned to retire in a few days has been shot to death while trying to execute a search warrant, authorities said Friday.

US-Military-Sexual-Assaults

Reports of violent sexual crimes against U.S. troops have leveled off in the military since 2009, according to a new study released by the Pentagon on Friday.

US-Alex-Karras-NFL-Lawsuit

SPORT-California-Dodgers-Sale-Approved

A bankruptcy court Friday approved the $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team to a group that includes former basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson. The price is the most ever paid for a North American sports franchise, according to MLB.com.

ELECTION 2012

POL-Weekly-Address

President Barack Obama used his weekly address to argue for the so-called Buffett Rule, a provision that millionaires and billionaires should pay a tax rate no less than that paid by middle income families.

"It's wrong that middle-class Americans pay a higher share of their income in taxes than some millionaires and billionaires," Obama said as the federal income tax deadline looms.

POL-Campaign-Wrap

MONEY-Obama-Tax-Return

President Obama and the first family saw their income drop by almost $1 million in 2011 as sales from his best-selling books slowed.

MONEY-Obama-Secretary-Taxes

Move over Warren Buffett. The White House said Friday that President Obama has a lower effective tax rate than his secretary.

POL-Obama-Romney-Taxes

MONEY-Romney-Files-Tax-Extension

Like millions of other Americans, Mitt Romney isn't going to be ready to file his taxes on time this year. The former Massachusetts governor and his wife Ann filed for an extension for their 2011 taxes, according to tax forms released by the Romney campaign on Friday.

POL-Romney-Florida-Obama

Florida surrogates for the likely GOP presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, gave a not-so-warm welcome to President Barack Obama ahead of his visit to the Sunshine State on Friday.

POL-Romney-NRA-Speech

POL-Romney-North-Korea

POL-Romney-Buchanan--Response

POL-Romney-Hilary-Rosen

Mitt Romney made his first public remarks Friday on the controversy over a top Democratic strategist criticizing his wife for her pasta stay-at-home mother.

POL-Romney-Speech-General-Election

Mitt Romney's speech Friday to the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting in St. Louis will be mark the launch of the general election campaign against President Barack Obama, his advisers said.

POL-Crossroads-Ad-Obama

American Crossroads, a conservative super PAC, announced its latest ad buy against President Barack Obama on Friday, taking a swing at the administration's coal industry policies.

POL-RNC-March-Fundraising

The Republican National Committee said Friday it raised $13.7 million in March, the highest monthly amount the group has pulled in during the 2012 election cycle.

FEATURES

MED-Military-Sexual-Assaults-Personality-Disorder

Stephanie Schroeder joined the U.S. Marine Corps not long after 9/11. She was a 21-year-old with an associate's degree when she reported for boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. "I felt like it was the right thing to do," Schroeder recalls.

ENT-Pitt-Jolie-Engaged

Angelina Jolie, 36, and Brad Pitt, 48, a Hollywood megastar couple since 2005, are engaged, Pitt's representative said Friday.

ENT-Lionel-Richie-Tax-Lien

The IRS has issued a tax lien against singer Lionel Richie for unpaid taxes, the performer said through his publicist Friday.

MED-miracle-baby-medical-theories

A premature baby - who was declared dead shortly after birth - was later discovered to be alive after spending 10 hours in a morgue refrigerator. How did this happen?

MED-side-effects-sports-fan

TRAVEL-National-Mall-Designs

LOAD-DATE: April 15, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: Update 7:04 a.m. The Outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

68 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 14, 2012 Saturday 7:14 AM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 2581 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Lateef Mungin - 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

POL-Summit-of-the-Americas Updating

Syria-Unrest

Syrians poured into the streets after Friday prayers, chanting and raising opposition flags in a major test of a fragile cease-fire implemented a day earlier to end a bloody government crackdown.

Russia-Wikileaks

A Russian television networks says it is launching a television show featuring the infamous Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks.

Guinea-Bissau-Coup

A group of Portuguese-speaking countries will meet Saturday to discuss a coup that roiled the tiny nation of Guinea-Bissau, which has battled political stability since its independence nearly 40 years ago.

POL-Weekly-Address HFR til 6 am

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

TOP STORIES

Colombia-Summit-Of-The-Americas

Regional summits are most often perfunctory events where presidents share their visions, sign agreements and pose for photographs At the sixth Summit of the Americas, some Latin American leaders hope to sway -- or at least challenge -- the priorities of the hemisphere's largest power, the United States. The leaders of some Latin American countries are expected to challenge the conventional wisdom that the way to deal with illegal drug trafficking is with firepower. Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina and others are offering serious alternatives, such as legalization.

Florida-Teen-Shooting

George Zimmerman's newly hired attorney told CNN's "AC360" on Friday that he didn't initially seek bond for his client because he first needed more time to become familiar with the case.

Syria-Unrest

Syrians poured into the streets after Friday prayers, chanting and raising opposition flags in a major test of a fragile cease-fire implemented a day earlier to end a bloody government crackdown.

INTERNATIONAL

North-Korea-Launch-Kim

North-Korea-Strategy

North-Korea-neighbor-reaction

North-korea-journalists

North-Korea-Launch-Why

North-Korea-nuclear-test

Guinea-Bissau-Coup-Attempt

Iran-Nuclear

Iranian nuclear negotiators arrived Friday and began consultations with Chinese and Russian counterparts on the eve of international talks on the country's nuclear program, state media reported.

Iran-Ebadi

Bahrain-Clashes

Yemen-al-Qaeda

Twenty-eight suspected members of al-Qaeda were killed Friday in the city of Lord, in Yemen's Abyan province, in military operations, state media reported.

Denmark-Terror-Trial

Four people accused in what officials describe as the most serious Islamist terrorist plot ever hatched in Scandinavia went on trial Friday in Copenhagen.

Israel-aerial-flotilla-protest

Pakistan-Bin-Laden-Widows

Pakistan will deport the widows and children of terrorism mastermind Osama bin Laden to Saudi Arabia next week, their attorney said Friday.

Colombia-Summit-Of-The-Americas

POL-Summit-of-the-Americas

President Barack Obama landed in Cartagena, Colombia, on Friday, opening a weekend visit that will mark the most time a U.S. president has spent in that country, where security concerns had limited previous presidential trips.

U.S.A.

ENT-California-Latino-Producers

A new cable network for Latino audiences will mark the culmination of two decades of filmmaking for writer-director Robert Rodriguez, who is leading the ambitious effort.

Maryland-Beating-Arrest

Baltimore police say they made an arrest in a violent robbery last month that left a man battered and stripped of his clothes on a street while onlookers laughed and did nothing to help.

Florida-Trayvon-Brother

Alaska-Coast-Guard-Shooting

State and federal authorities are investigating the apparent double homicide of a U.S. Coast Guard member and a civilian shot dead Thursday on an island off Alaska's coast.

New-Jersey-Mayor-Rescue

New-York-Zach-Tomaselli

A man who accused a Syracuse University assistant basketball coach of sexually molesting him as a child said Friday that it was all a lie.

Mississippi-Pardons-DUI-emails

E-mails show that Mississippi governor's office was urged not to pardon Harry Bostick, a convicted DUI felon, who was involved in a crash that killed an 18-year-old.

Kentucky-Hate-Crime

Two Kentucky women have pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a kidnapping and hate-crime assault involving a gay man, the Justice Department announced Friday.

Virginia-Terror-Sentencing

A Pakistani man living in Virginia was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison for providing material support to the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayyiba.

Oklahoma-Shootings

Ohio-Shooting

An apparent domestic dispute left three people dead at a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant near Cleveland on Thursday, according to Ohio police.

California-Deputy-Killed

A locksmith hired to help in the process of evicting a California tenant was shot dead, along with the sheriff's deputy serving the eviction notice, police said Friday.

Former-CIA-Officer-pleads-not-guilty

A former CIA officer entered a not guilty plea on Friday to charges he gave classified information to reporters and lied to a CIA review board about material in a book he wrote.

US-Midwest-Storms

US-New-Hampshire-Shooting

A police chief from southeastern New Hampshire who planned to retire in a few days has been shot to death while trying to execute a search warrant, authorities said Friday.

US-Military-Sexual-Assaults

Reports of violent sexual crimes against U.S. troops have leveled off in the military since 2009, according to a new study released by the Pentagon on Friday.

US-Alex-Karras-NFL-Lawsuit

SPORT-California-Dodgers-Sale-Approved

ELECTION 2012

POL-Campaign-Wrap

MONEY-Obama-Tax-Return

President Obama and the first family saw their income drop by almost $1 million in 2011 as sales from his best-selling books slowed.

MONEY-Obama-Secretary-Taxes

Move over Warren Buffett. The White House said Friday that President Obama has a lower effective tax rate than his secretary.

POL-Obama-Romney-Taxes

MONEY-Romney-Files-Tax-Extension

POL-Romney-Florida-Obama

Florida surrogates for the likely GOP presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, gave a not-so-warm welcome to President Barack Obama ahead of his visit to the Sunshine State on Friday.

POL-Romney-NRA-Speech

POL-Romney-North-Korea

POL-Romney-Buchanan--Response

POL-Romney-Hilary-Rosen

Mitt Romney made his first public remarks Friday on the controversy over a top Democratic strategist criticizing his wife for her pasta stay-at-home mother.

POL-Romney-Speech-General-Election

Mitt Romney's speech Friday to the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting in St. Louis will be mark the launch of the general election campaign against President Barack Obama, his advisers said.

POL-Crossroads-Ad-Obama

American Crossroads, a conservative super PAC, announced its latest ad buy against President Barack Obama on Friday, taking a swing at the administration's coal industry policies.

POL-RNC-March-Fundraising

The Republican National Committee said Friday it raised $13.7 million in March, the highest monthly amount the group has pulled in during the 2012 election cycle.

FEATURES

ENT-Pitt-Jolie-Engaged

Angelina Jolie, 36, and Brad Pitt, 48, a Hollywood megastar couple since 2005, are engaged, Pitt's representative said Friday.

ENT-Lionel-Richie-Tax-Lien

The IRS has issued a tax lien against singer Lionel Richie for unpaid taxes, the performer said through his publicist Friday.

MED-miracle-baby-medical-theories

A premature baby - who was declared dead shortly after birth - was later discovered to be alive after spending 10 hours in a morgue refrigerator. How did this happen?

MED-side-effects-sports-fan

TRAVEL-National-Mall-Designs

LOAD-DATE: April 15, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The Outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

69 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 14, 2012 Saturday 3:14 AM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 3937 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Lateef Mungin - 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

Colombia-Summit-Of-The-Americas

POL-Summit-of-the-Americas

Syria-Unrest

Syrians poured into the streets after Friday prayers, chanting and raising opposition flags in a major test of a fragile cease-fire implemented a day earlier to end a bloody government crackdown.

Maryland-Beating-Arrest

Baltimore police say they made an arrest in a St. Patrick's Day attack that left a man beaten, stripped and robbed on the street while onlookers laughed and did nothing to help.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

TOP STORIES

Colombia-Summit-Of-The-Americas

Florida-Teen-Shooting

George Zimmerman's newly hired attorney told CNN's "AC360" on Friday that he didn't initially seek bond for his client because he first needed more time to become familiar with the case.

Syria-Unrest

Syrians poured into the streets after Friday prayers, chanting and raising opposition flags in a major test of a fragile cease-fire implemented a day earlier to end a bloody government crackdown.

INTERNATIONAL

North-Korea-Launch-Kim

North-Korea-Strategy

North-Korea-neighbor-reaction

North-korea-journalists

North-Korea-Launch-Why

North-Korea-nuclear-test

Guinea-Bissau-Coup-Attempt

Iran-Nuclear

Iranian nuclear negotiators arrived Friday and began consultations with Chinese and Russian counterparts on the eve of international talks on the country's nuclear program, state media reported.

Iran-Ebadi

Bahrain-Clashes

Yemen-al-Qaeda

Twenty-eight suspected members of al-Qaeda were killed Friday in the city of Lord, in Yemen's Abyan province, in military operations, state media reported.

Denmark-Terror-Trial

Four people accused in what officials describe as the most serious Islamist terrorist plot ever hatched in Scandinavia went on trial Friday in Copenhagen.

Israel-aerial-flotilla-protest

Pakistan-Bin-Laden-Widows

Pakistan will deport the widows and children of terrorism mastermind Osama bin Laden to Saudi Arabia next week, their attorney said Friday.

Colombia-Summit-Of-The-Americas

POL-Summit-of-the-Americas

France-Sarkozy-Profile

Germany-Train-Crash

Three people died and 13 were injured when a German commuter train collided with a maintenance crane Friday morning, German police said.

Germany-Incest-Court

Sudans-UN-Demand

Myanmar-Britain-Cameron

British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in Myanmar Friday on the first visit by a high-profile Western leader to the nation in decades.

MONEY-China-Gdp

China's economic growth lost more momentum at the beginning of the year, but experts aren't too worried that the slowdown will continue for long.

Cairo-pigeon-breeders-politics

SPORT-motorsport-f1-bahrain-ecclestone

U.S.A.

Florida-Trayvon-Brother

Alaska-Coast-Guard-Shooting

State and federal authorities are investigating the apparent double homicide of a U.S. Coast Guard member and a civilian shot dead Thursday on an island off Alaska's coast.

New-Jersey-Mayor-Rescue

New-York-Zach-Tomaselli

A man who accused a Syracuse University assistant basketball coach of sexually molesting him as a child said Friday that it was all a lie.

Mississippi-Pardons-DUI-emails

E-mails show that Mississippi governor's office was urged not to pardon Harry Bostick, a convicted DUI felon, who was involved in a crash that killed an 18-year-old.

Kentucky-Hate-Crime

Two Kentucky women have pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a kidnapping and hate-crime assault involving a gay man, the Justice Department announced Friday.

Virginia-Terror-Sentencing

A Pakistani man living in Virginia was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison for providing material support to the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayyiba.

Oklahoma-Shootings

Ohio-Shooting

An apparent domestic dispute left three people dead at a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant near Cleveland on Thursday, according to Ohio police.

California-Deputy-Killed

A locksmith hired to help in the process of evicting a California tenant was shot dead, along with the sheriff's deputy serving the eviction notice, police said Friday.

Former-CIA-Officer-pleads-not-guilty

A former CIA officer entered a not guilty plea on Friday to charges he gave classified information to reporters and lied to a CIA review board about material in a book he wrote.

US-Midwest-Storms

US-New-Hampshire-Shooting

A police chief from southeastern New Hampshire who planned to retire in a few days has been shot to death while trying to execute a search warrant, authorities said Friday.

US-Military-Sexual-Assaults

Reports of violent sexual crimes against U.S. troops have leveled off in the military since 2009, according to a new study released by the Pentagon on Friday.

US-Alex-Karras-NFL-Lawsuit

SPORT-California-Dodgers-Sale-Approved

TRAVEL-TSA-New-Technology

The Transportation Security Administration is unveiling new technology this month at several airports aimed at verifying boarding passes and IDs of passengers.

TECH-Pew-Not-Using-Internet

Even though the Internet has become a key tool for accessing services, getting an education, finding jobs, getting the news, keeping up with people you know and much more, one in five U.S. adults still does not use the Internet at all, according to a new Pew report.

TECH-apple-mac-virus-fix

Apple says a new software update provides tools to get rid of the so-called "Flashback" virus that has infected hundreds of thousands of Mac computers.

SPORT-Arkansas-Petrino-Crash

The University of Arkansas has suspended a woman whose relationship with former football coach Bobby Petrino came to light after his motorcycle crashed this month, a school spokesman said Friday.

MONEY-Apple-Doj-Ebooks

Apple has responded to an antitrust lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice, saying it fostered, not quelled, competition in the electronic publishing industry.

MONEY-Bernanke-Federal-Reserve

The Federal Reserve needs to focus just as heavily on its regulatory role as its monetary policy operations, Chairman Ben Bernanke stressed Friday.

MONEY-Carriercompare

MONEY-Tax-Day-April-17

MONEY-Foreclosures

MONEY-Gas-Prices

MONEY-Obama-Natural-Gas

President Obama issued an executive order Friday, establishing a meeting of the minds to work on natural gas policies for his administration.

MONEY-Stocks

U.S. stocks stumbled Friday, following a two-day rally, closing lower for a second straight week with the worst declines of the year.

POL-GSA-Scandal-Neely

A top official at the scandal-plagued General Services Administration is now facing the prospect of a federal criminal investigation, CNN confirmed Friday.

POL-Religious-Freedom-Campaign

POL-West-Communist-Controversy

ELECTION 2012

POL-Campaign-Wrap

MONEY-Obama-Tax-Return

President Obama and the first family saw their income drop by almost $1 million in 2011 as sales from his best-selling books slowed.

MONEY-Obama-Secretary-Taxes

Move over Warren Buffett. The White House said Friday that President Obama has a lower effective tax rate than his secretary.

POL-Obama-Romney-Taxes

MONEY-Romney-Files-Tax-Extension

POL-Romney-Florida-Obama

Florida surrogates for the likely GOP presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, gave a not-so-warm welcome to President Barack Obama ahead of his visit to the Sunshine State on Friday.

POL-Romney-NRA-Speech

POL-Romney-North-Korea

POL-Romney-Buchanan--Response

POL-Romney-Hilary-Rosen

Mitt Romney made his first public remarks Friday on the controversy over a top Democratic strategist criticizing his wife for her pasta stay-at-home mother.

POL-Romney-Speech-General-Election

Mitt Romney's speech Friday to the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting in St. Louis will be mark the launch of the general election campaign against President Barack Obama, his advisers said.

POL-Crossroads-Ad-Obama

American Crossroads, a conservative super PAC, announced its latest ad buy against President Barack Obama on Friday, taking a swing at the administration's coal industry policies.

POL-RNC-March-Fundraising

The Republican National Committee said Friday it raised $13.7 million in March, the highest monthly amount the group has pulled in during the 2012 election cycle.

FEATURES

ENT-Pitt-Jolie-Engaged

Angelina Jolie, 36, and Brad Pitt, 48, a Hollywood megastar couple since 2005, are engaged, Pitt's representative said Friday.

ENT-Lionel-Richie-Tax-Lien

The IRS has issued a tax lien against singer Lionel Richie for unpaid taxes, the performer said through his publicist Friday.

MED-miracle-baby-medical-theories

A premature baby - who was declared dead shortly after birth - was later discovered to be alive after spending 10 hours in a morgue refrigerator. How did this happen?

MED-side-effects-sports-fan

TRAVEL-National-Mall-Designs

TECH-Draw-Something-app-appeal

US-petrino-social-media

US-My-View:-Why-libraries-matter-more-than-ever

Why libraries matter more than ever

Mountain-gorillas-rwanda-inside-africa

FEA-hollywood-ruins-myths

When Hollywood gets in the way of a perfectly good myth

FEA-japan-maid-culture

Cuteness is served: Exploring Japan's maid culture

COMMENTARY-Ghitis-North-Korea

North Korea's message to Washington and Iran.

COMMENTARY-matalin-hilary-rosen

Obama campaign quick to condemn a loyal supporter.

COMMENTARY-Garcia-Cuban-Americans-Guillen

Is Castro Cuban-Americans' Hitler?

LOAD-DATE: April 14, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The Outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

70 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

The Columbian (Vancouver, Washington)

April 14, 2012 Saturday

Come on, man! Plus other stuff

BYLINE: LOU BRANCACCIO; Lou Brancaccio, The Columbian

SECTION: C METRO; Pg. C1

LENGTH: 508 words

HIGHLIGHT: GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney should have had a standing O.

When I got into this crazy business, I remember noting that my salary as a reporter was below the poverty line.

"So what!" I thought back then.

I had been inspired by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein and Watergate, and I just loved the idea of holding those in power accountable.

And it's always been established that one won't get rich in this business.

Still, I was a little surprised when Careercast came out with a list of the best -- and worst -- 200 jobs. It looked at work environment, physical demands, job outlook, income levels and stress.

How did reporters fare? Not so well. Out of 200 jobs looked at, reporters ranked 196th. That means virtually every job out there is better than a reporter's job. Really?

As in "Really? Maids, taxi drivers and dishwashers ranked ahead of reporters?"

No question, market conditions -- particularly with advertising sales -- and the shifting information landscape have created a large challenge for us.

I guess I'd feel real sorry for us, except there were a few jobs below us. Who's dead last?

Lumberjacks.

Our newsroom -- a great bunch of educated, dedicated staffers -- had a little fun with all of this. One reporter wryly noted of lumberjacks:

"Those guys are probably cutting trees down so we can make newspapers. They need us!"

You know, the public could help a little here by supporting your local newspaper and supporting those businesses who advertise with us.

Come on, man!

Call 911 for records help

It took us way too long recently to get a recording of a 911 call, something we should have received almost immediately.

Why did it take so long?

Well, at the risk of generalizing, bureaucrats often have things backwards.

Here's the way it should work when it comes to the public getting public records:

A record is assumed to be public unless one can support why it should not be.

And here's the way it usually works:

A record is assumed to be private unless someone beats me senseless with attorneys and supporting data.

Come on, man!

I vote for equal applause

Wanted to share an observation I made at the editors conference I attended last week.

We heard -- at back-to-back luncheons -- President Barack Obama and

Mitt Romney.

After Obama spoke, I was moved enough to give him a standing ovation, as did everyone else at the lunch. I knew I'd be seeing Romney the next day at lunch, and I immediately decided -- to be fair -- I'd do the same for him.

Romney's speech was very good, but it didn't move me like Obama's did. Still, I stood and applauded out of fairness and respect. But unlike the day before, when everyone stood, it was just me and one other guy.

It should be noted that folks other than editors were invited to these luncheons. There was another separate conference at the hotel that included newspaper publishers, advertisers and circulation people. Pretty much, they're considered a conservative lot.

So for Romney not to get a standing O was a little unbecoming.

Come on, man!

Lou Brancaccio is The Columbian's editor. Reach him at 360-735-4505,

http://twitter.com/lounews

lou.brancaccio@columbian.com

LOAD-DATE: April 18, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

71 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK)

April 14, 2012 Saturday
Drive Edition

Lawyer-client split like divorce

SECTION: OPINION; SCISSORTALES; OUR OPINIONS TAKE FLIGHT; Pg. 8A

LENGTH: 1234 words

JEROME Ersland has fired his lawyer. The lawyers for George Zimmerman have fired their client. When does a lawyer go through a divorce even if he's never been married? When he breaks up with a client or a client breaks up with the lawyer.

Ersland is the pharmacist appealing his first-degree murder conviction for killing a man attempting to rob the Oklahoma City drugstore where Ersland worked. Zimmerman is the neighborhood watch volunteer accused of killing Trayvon Martin in Florida. Ersland says he's done with Irven Box, the man who took Ersland through the trial and months of pretrial work. Zimmerman, charged this week with second-degree murder, has been incommunicado with his first attorneys; thus, they said they could no longer represent hm.

Lawyers.com says a client's failure to cooperate or communicate is a prime reason for attorneys to withdraw from a case, but a Houston Chronicle blog called Legal Trade says the No 1. reason lawyers fire their clients is money: "We don't really expect work from plumbers or bakers, doctors or manicurists or just about anyone else for free. What is it about lawyers that causes folks to decide they just won't pay?"

Obviously, some clients fire lawyers due to disgruntlement over the outcome of a case. "Much like a marriage," the American Bar Association Journal reported in 2008, "the lawyer-client relationship can seem like a match made in heaven ... But sometimes there are silent resentments and disagreements bubbling beneath the surface, waiting for a break in the facade. If the proverbial toilet seat is left up once too often, things can go south surprisingly quickly."

Fostering hope

To best serve Oklahoma's poor and disadvantaged, a partnership between the government and faith-based community is indispensable. The 8308 campaign, named for the number of children in DHS custody as of Jan. 1, is taking this approach to address the urgent need for foster families. A statewide conference on April 26 will provide information and resources for individuals who want to get involved and churches interested in establishing a foster care or adoption ministry. Journey Church in Norman is hosting the event from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Register at www.faithlinksok.org. The conference is free. The campaign is a collaborative effort of the Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, 111 Project, SALLT and SandRidge Energy. If you've thought about what you can do to serve Oklahoma's children, mark your calendar for this opportunity to turn your faith into action.

Gasonomics

If natural gas gets any cheaper, the energy industry will have to pay people to take it. The government is already paying people to buy CNG-burning vehicles, but more people need to take advantage of it. Natural gas prices have been hovering around $2 per 1,000 cubic feet. Compressed Natural Gas prices are below $2 per gallon of gasoline equivalent. The state offers a generous income tax credit for the purchase of a CNG vehicle or conversion of a gasoline engine to run on CNG, but Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, said he found tepid support for switching to CNG among motorists he talked to at gas stations during the Easter break. Despite high gas prices, switching to alternative fuels has been slow to develop.

Razor thin

The race to determine a new state representative from Tulsa is a reminder that yes, every vote really does matter. That's easy to lose sight of when a race is decided by a wide margin. But the difference in the District 71 seat couldn't be closer. After losing on April 3 by three votes, Republican Katie Henke asked for a recount. It showed her defeating Democrat Dan Arthrell by one vote. But two other ballots were eventually found in the tubs that collect ballots under the machines. If those were counted, Arthrell would be the winner again. The case is now in Tulsa County district court. However this shakes out, the winner will have to immediately run for re-election because the job only lasts through the end of this legislative session.

Long-shot consideration

With his path to the Republican nomination for president now all but locked up, Mitt Romney can focus on choosing a running mate. It's a pivotal decision. Among the names often mentioned as possibilities are House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and Ohio Sen. Rob Portman. All represent important states and constituencies or bring certain skill sets to the table. "It's pretty easy to name the list. It's pretty difficult to pick the guy," U.S. Rep. Tom Cole said. Cole, R-Moore, offers a long shot female worth considering - New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte. He says she's a rising star who could more than hold her own under the bright lights of a campaign.

Off the books

The number of states that have the death penalty on the books shrank by one this week - sort of. Lawmakers in Connecticut voted to abolish capital punishment for all future cases, and replace it with life in prison without the possibility of parole. Eleven men are on death row in Connecticut, and that won't change. Leaving those sentences intact helped give this bill the support it needed in the legislature. One House member called the bill "illogical" because "we allow the death penalty to continue for at least 11 people and maybe more." True, but it's essentially for show anyway - the state has carried out only one execution in the past 51 years.

Just rewards

A couple of easy lessons flow from the firing this week of Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino. One is that hubris can be costly. Petrino clearly felt that his exalted position as head of the state's beloved football program made him untouchable. That sort of arrogance is too often the norm, not the exception, with big-time college football (and basketball) coaches. Another is that the cover-up is always worse than the crime. Petrino's downfall started with a motorcycle crash on April 1. On board at the time was a 25-year-old woman with whom Petrino had been having an affair. He had only a few days earlier hired her onto his support staff. From the start, and despite numerous chances to come clean, Petrino lied to his boss and others about the details of the crash and the improper relationship. Despite all of this, the decision to show Petrino the door had to be difficult for Athletic Director Jeff Long, a former assistant AD at the University of Oklahoma. Kudos to him for doing the right thing.

Trouble down south?

The Latino vote could be key in November's presidential election. If this demographic's views mirror the sentiment in Latin American countries, President Barack Obama could be in trouble. Gallup reported this week that the percentage of Latin Americans believing the U.S.-Latin America relationship will strengthen under Obama has dropped from 43 percent in 2009 to 24 percent in 2011. Neighboring Mexico's optimism was halved, from 43 to 19 percent. Obama's job approval rating in the region has also declined in the same time frame, from 62 to 47 percent, with Mexico demonstrating the biggest fall among the 18 countries, from 62 to 31 percent. At this weekend's Summit of the Americas in Colombia, Gallup says Obama is "seeking to strengthen commercial ties, specifically in the energy sector." Perhaps Canada will join us in our skepticism.

LOAD-DATE: April 18, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: Photo 1: Jerome Ersland
Photo 2: Sen. Kelly Ayotte
Photo 3: Bobby Petrino speaks to reporters last week about his motorcycle wreck. He was fired as Arkansas coach on Tuesday. AP PHOTO

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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Lowell Sun (Massachusetts)

April 14, 2012 Saturday

Mrs. Romney: No phoney baloney

BYLINE: The Lowell Sun

SECTION: EDITORIALS

LENGTH: 585 words

The Democratic Party's phony "war on women" backfired Thursday when a Democratic consultant, Hilary Rosen, poked fun at Anne Romney, the wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Of course, when Democrats try to be funny with cocktail chatter they do it on television cable networks that turn such banter into real news. In this case, Rosen delivered her astute knowledge on CNN. She said Mrs. Romney wasn't qualified to speak about economic pressures on women because "she has never worked a day in her life."

Mrs. Romney later acknowledged that she may have had it a bit easier than most American women -- she is the wife of a multimillionaire -- but she also said she has has raised five sons. "Maybe I haven't struggled as much financially as some people have," Mrs. Romney told a national audience on FoxNews. "I can tell you and promise you that I have struggled in my life."

Mrs. Romney didn't mention that she has survived a battle with breast cancer or that she is afflicted with multiple sclerosis.

Democrats would probably put Anne Romney in a TV ad campaign if she was on their team, building it around "sympathy" and urging voters to get behind another entitlement program for yet another disenfranchised group in America.

All Anne Romney is really saying is that women work hard in many different life settings and they deserve respect.

It took a little while, but Hilary Rosen got the message. By the time the Thursday evening talk shows went on air, Rosen had already apologized for her remarks. Naturally, she was following the lead of the White House "spin" squad, which saw Rosen's comments as a potential problem for its concocted "war on women" campaign which has given President Barack Obama a big polling lead among females who now believe contraception -- and not jobs -- is going to save America's future.

First lady Michelle Obama defended Mrs. Romney, then President Barack Obama weighed in saying there is "no tougher job than being a mom." Ah, what they do for politics.

They very fact that what Anne Romney does or doesn't do -- and the same goes for Mrs. Obama -- and that it could determine the political futures of their husbands is absurd. The relevant issue is this, whether you are a man or a woman, Democrat or Republican: Are you better off now than you were four years ago?

Come November, you'll have a chance to answer that question honestly in the voting booth.

Minimizing 9/11

The searing tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, when nearly 3,000 innocent people lost their lives in the worst foreign attack on U.S. soil in history can never be forgotten. But little by little, we are seeing the signs of a blurring from the memory banks of that most horrible day.

How else to explain Tarek Mehanna's 17 1/2 prison sentence doled out in Boston's U.S. District Court on Thursday for conspiring with al-Qaida to kill U.S. soldiers and wage war against America? Mehanna, defiant to the end, deserved to get the maximum 25 years in jail, but Judge George A. O'Toole Jr. had a soft spot for the chap. What a joke.

Mehanna was working to do harm to his birth country, the people who live here and the soldiers who defend it. If he had the chance to blow up the Burlington Mall, evidence shows that Mehanna was inclined to do al-Qaida's terrible bidding. He is a threat, and in 2029 he'll be back on the streets.

Judge O'Toole's sentence set a bad precedent for all extremists who will choose to follow Tarek Mehanna's example. That's what happens when the memory of 9/11 is allowed to fade.

LOAD-DATE: April 14, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The New York Times

April 14, 2012 Saturday
Late Edition - Final

Republicans and the Gun Lobby

SECTION: Section A; Column 0; Editorial Desk; EDITORIAL; Pg. 18

LENGTH: 474 words

Republican politicians gathering at the National Rifle Association convention in St. Louis are eagerly pandering to a powerful political lobby that is intent on making the nation's gun laws weaker and more riddled with more dangerous loopholes. Rather than tackling public safety risks like the Stand Your Ground law implicated in the killing of Trayvon Martin in Florida, Mitt Romney and others offered nothing but exhortations to defend the Second Amendment's right to bear arms at all costs.

President Obama has regrettably been avoiding the gun control issue. Still, Mr. Romney attacked him at the convention on Friday, promising to stand with the N.R.A. ''for the rights of hunters and sportsmen and those seeking to protect their homes and their families.'' This was a far cry from Mr. Romney's 1994 campaign for the United States Senate when he assured centrist Massachusetts voters: ''I don't line up with the N.R.A.'' Yet there he was in St. Louis, lining up. Newt Gingrich, in his over-the-top manner, urged a United Nations campaign to proclaim the Second Amendment ''a human right for every person on the planet.''

The convention, in its ''celebration of American values,'' has drawn tens of thousands of members to see genuflecting Republicans and to browse a seven-acre commercial mart of guns and shooting paraphernalia, much of it designed for the battlefields of war, not the home front.

Notably absent are top Democratic politicians, who seem to have concluded that, despite thousands of constituents shot or killed each year, it is best to go silent about gun control.

Polls show Republicans enjoy heavy support and donations from gun owners. In return, the gun lobby has had steady success in weakening gun laws -- especially in the two dozen statehouses that followed Florida in enacting new self-defense laws to allow the instant use of deadly force in a confrontation rather than retreat from danger. These laws are fostered by the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council, with heavyweight business supporters like Walmart, a major gun retailer.

The families of the victims killed and wounded in the Virginia Tech massacre do not come close to having such clout. For the tragedy's fifth anniversary next week, they are having a hard time securing meetings with Washington politicians to fix the law that promised a more complete and up-to-date federal list of the mentally ill, who should be barred from buying guns. But two dozen states have submitted fewer than 100 mental health records each when tens of thousands should be entered, according to Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a national gun reform group. Financing to help state reporting efforts was supposed to be $1.1 billion over the last four years, yet Congress appropriated only $51 million. So goes the nation's utter failure to deal with the gun menace.

URL: http://www.nytimes.com

LOAD-DATE: April 14, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

DOCUMENT-TYPE: Editorial

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

74 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

The Tampa Tribune (Florida)

April 14, 2012 Saturday
FINAL EDITION

President talks trade in Tampa

BYLINE: WILLIAM MARCH, The Tampa Tribune

SECTION: NATION/WORLD; Pg. 1

LENGTH: 1010 words

Obama discusses policies before leaving for Summit of the Americas in Colombia

BY WILLIAM MARCH

The Tampa Tribune

At the Port of Tampa on Friday, President Barack Obama said U.S. exports to the Western Hemisphere are up 46 percent since 2009.

TAMPA In a speech at the Port of Tampa on Friday, President Barack Obama said exports and trade are helping drive the economic recovery and he intends to speed that process up.

Obama spoke to a crowd of about 500 under the noonday sun amid piles of shipping containers and beneath giant container cranes on an asphalt apron at the port's container cargo area.

Possibly in deference to the heat, he kept it short, speaking for slightly less than 10 minutes.

He said his work to expand trade, particularly with Latin and South America, will directly benefit Tampa.

"Two years ago I set the goal of doubling American exports by the end of 2014," he said. "Today, with the trade agreements that I signed into law, we're on track to meet that goal."

He said exports to the Western Hemisphere are up 46 percent since 2009. "That's a big deal for Tampa," he said.

His talk of stoking business through trade included themes heard often from Republicans.

"I've always said that the true engine of job creation in this country is the private sector, not Washington," he said. "Our job in government is to help businesses grow and hire, to create platforms for their success.

"That's one of the reasons I've cut taxes 17 times for small businesses."

Obama made the stop on his way to the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia, where, he said, he intends to work for more open markets for U.S. exports.

In Latin America, he said, "tens of millions of people have stepped out of poverty and into the middle class, so they're now in a position to start buying American products."

It was his second visit to Florida this week, after a day of fundraising and a speech on his proposed "Buffett Rule" tax policy on the Treasure Coast on Tuesday.

That probably has something to do with "the vagaries of scheduling," said University of Central Florida political scientist Aubrey Jewett, but it's definitely not just a coincidence. "He knows Florida will be a really important swing state, and it's also a big donor state when it comes to filling campaign accounts."

The Mitt Romney campaign also knows Tampa and Florida matter and prepared a barrage of criticism to hurl at Obama on his arrival: a statement from former Gov. Jeb Bush, a news conference call with two members of Congress and incoming state House Speaker Will Weatherford of Lutz, and a slew of news releases from Romney surrogates.

They focused on the trade deals Obama spoke of -- free-trade pacts with South Korea, Colombia and Panama -- accusing him of delaying them, costing U.S. jobs and exports, to please organized labor supporters.

The pacts, negotiated during the Bush administration, were approved by Congress last year.

Obama's focus on trade "comes three years too late," Jeb Bush said.

Obama "bowed to political pressure from powerful labor unions" and "missed several opportunities early in his administration to secure quick passage" of the Colombia and Panama pacts, which are expected to create jobs in Florida, Bush said.

Bush said the United States lost $1 billion in agricultural exports to Colombia as a result.

The history of the pacts is more complicated than that, said former Australian trade negotiator Josh Meltzer, now a fellow at the Brookings Institution.

The Colombia and Panama pacts were delayed in part by Democrats over concerns about lack of environmental and worker protections in those nations, including murders of Colombian union leaders, and by union concerns they would cost U.S. jobs, he said.

Obama began backing the pacts early in his administration, siding with business interests over the objection of unions.

They were further delayed by GOP objections to a domestic job retraining program Obama wanted expanded to help workers displaced as result of the acts.

"Obama has proven to be fairly centrist when it comes to trade," Meltzer said.

Rep. Kathy Castor, a Tampa Democrat and strong Obama backer, said he "pressed Congress for years to get (the trade pacts) done." She acknowledged congressional Democrats were responsible for some of the delay but said they also "improved the agreements from what the Bush administration language was."

Obama also disputed the common GOP contention that he hasn't acted to protect against unfair trade practices by China.

He said his administration "brought trade cases against China at nearly twice the rate as the last administration" and set up a trade enforcement unit to investigate questionable trade practices.

In his speech, Obama made no direct reference to the Buffett Rule, his proposal that high-income people should pay at least as large a proportion of their income in taxes as middle- and low-income earners, or at least 30 percent.

But he emphasized his campaign theme of tax fairness.

He called it a "fundamental choice" between "a country where a shrinking number of people do really, really well while a growing number are struggling to get by" or "an economy where everybody gets a fair shot and everybody's doing their fair share and everybody's playing by the same set of rules."

In Cartagena, Obama will be accompanied by Tampa native Frank Sanchez.

Sanchez, a former Clinton administration official, former Tampa mayoral candidate and early Obama supporter, now is undersecretary of commerce for international trade.

In a phone interview, he said he'll "do some of the ground-work for the president and share my observations on the progress of the commercial relations" between the U.S. and Latin America. He said he has talked to Obama about the Tampa port's role.

wmarch@tampatrib.com

(813) 259-7761

In a speech that lasted less than 10 minutes, he told a crowd of about 500 people that the United States is on its way to meeting his goal of doubling U.S. exports by the end of 2014.

LOAD-DATE: April 16, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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Tulsa World (Oklahoma)

April 14, 2012 Saturday
Final Edition

The quiet campaign: Voter suppression

BYLINE: RICHARD REEVES Universal Press Syndicate

SECTION: Syndicated; Pg. A18

LENGTH: 579 words

LOS ANGELES - The 2012 presidential election is not only about who votes for Barack Obama and who votes for Mitt Romney. It is also about who votes. In a national campaign that does not get much national publicity, at least 41 states have passed laws or are considering new laws making it more difficult to vote in November, or legislation designed to discourage people from even trying to cast ballots, according to a study by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law.

The center reports on a quiet wave of new state legislation sweeping the country that focuses on voting eligibility and estimates that these laws could reduce presidential voting by as many as 5 million votes. To put that number in perspective, in 2008, Obama won the presidency by 9 million votes. The report, issued two weeks ago, lists five types of laws: Photo identification cards. At least 34 states have passed or are considering laws requiring voters to show photo IDs to get to a ballot box or machine. The bills have become law just this past year in Alabama, Kansas, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Mississippi. It seems amazing, but 21 million Americans apparently do not have government-issued identification, including even driver's licenses. Proof-of-citizenship laws. At least 15 states have passed or are considering laws requiring voters to show birth certificates or passports to vote. Making voter registration more difficult. At least 16 states have passed or are considering legislation that would end same-day registration. Three of those states, Florida, Illinois and Texas, have also passed laws restricting voter registration drives. At least nine states have passed laws or are considering legislation to end early voting days, and four are trying to restrict absentee voting. Making it harder to restore voting rights. Two states, Florida and Iowa, have reversed executive action that permitted restoration of voting rights for ex-felons after a given period of time. I would add at least one more factor in holding down voter turnout: negative advertising. There is some evidence that voters can get so disgusted with massive negative commercials, posters, mail, etc. that they decide not to vote. That could have been a factor in the lower-than-usual turnout in Republican primaries this year. There is no doubt that negative advertising works with many voters, but it may also be creating ex-voters. Voter suppression is as old as the Republic. After all, only white males who owned property were allowed to vote in a couple of states in our first elections. And the franchise was notoriously denied African-Americans and women for decade after decade. At the moment, much of the vote suppression is in Republican-controlled legislations. The phrase "voter fraud" is thrown around, but there is no doubt the idea now is designed to discourage poor people, who are usually both less-informed about the law and more likely to vote for Democrats. There are and have been many tricks of this old trade. Men in police uniforms, some real, some not, have stood near voting stations, intimidating possible voters who may have had trouble with the law or are just afraid of cops. Men in suits with clipboards asking questions also have an effect on some possible voters. In fact, that was the way William Rehnquist in Arizona began the political activity that eventually made him chief justice of the United States.

LOAD-DATE: April 15, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The Philadelphia Inquirer

April 15, 2012 Sunday
WEB Edition

Religion still has a role to play

BYLINE: Inquirer Editorial

SECTION: NEWS; P-com Opinion; Pg. WEB

LENGTH: 562 words

Bible-believing evangelical voters kept Rick Santorum in the hunt for the Republican presidential nomination. But their fervor didn't translate into the dollars he needed to withstand the ad blitz of the deeper-pocketed Mitt Romney.

Does Santorum's suspension of his campaign mean religion won't play a role in the fall campaign? No, with a Mormon and a Protestant who still gets wrongly accused of being a Muslim in the race, you can expect religion to remain a factor in the election.

Religion's role may not be as obvious without Santorum around to serve as the Catholic Church's mouthpiece on abortion. But both Romney and President Obama know the evangelical vote could be very important, especially for Republicans, whose party depends on that demographic more than the Democrats.

The journal Foreign Affairs, in a recent article looking at the impact of religion on U.S. foreign policy, noted that evangelicals actually tended to identify more with the Democratic Party even into the 1970s, helping to elect self-styled -born-again Christian” Jimmy Carter in 1976.

But that changed with the 1980 election of Ronald Reagan, who courted the religious vote like no other Republican before him. The GOP has continued that approach ever since, taking stands seen as biblically based on abortion, gay rights, and other social issues.

It makes sense that the tea-party movement is more like a wing of the GOP. Although the movement is largely viewed as a politically inspired effort concerned primarily with fiscal issues, many tea-party supporters have roots in the old religious right, which also mostly sat in Republican pews.

-Tea partyers are more likely than other Republicans to say that U.S. laws and policies would be better if the country had more ‘deeply religious' elected officials, that it is appropriate for religious leaders to engage in political persuasion, and that religion should be brought into public debates over political issues,” said the Foreign Affairs article.

It also pointed out, however, that the tea-party profile doesn't match the rest of the country's. Surveys show the percentage of Americans who believe religious leaders should stop trying to influence government decisions has grown from 22 percent to 38 percent since 1991, and that 80 percent of respondents said it is not proper for religious leaders to tell people how to vote.

Those numbers aren't surprising when you consider the related decline in church attendance. The mega-churches, with 2,000 or more members, may get a lot of media attention, but they represent less than 1 percent of all churches. A more typical congregation today has fewer than 200 members - and in most mainline Protestant churches, a third of the members are retirement age.

Given that fewer people attend church, and most of them are older, one might wonder why candidates try so hard to get church folks' votes. A Foreign Affairs survey showed that even religious leaders seem to have retreated from politics, with only 19 percent of churchgoers saying they heard a sermon with political content in 2011, compared with 32 percent in 2006.

Politicians aren't really bothered by that. They know church members are reliable voters. They should also know faith alone won't direct those votes.

LOAD-DATE: April 15, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The Virginian-Pilot(Norfolk, VA.)

April 15, 2012 Sunday
The Virginian-Pilot Edition

Congress willing, obama says, he'll address immigration policy

SECTION: FRONT; Pg. A8

LENGTH: 356 words

NATION AT A GLANCE

In his most specific pledge yet to U.S. Hispanics, President Barack Obama said Saturday he would seek to tackle immigration policy in the first year of a second term. But he cautioned that he would need an amenable Congress to succeed.

"This is something I care deeply about," he told Univision.

Obama said he would work on immigration this year, but that he can't get support from Republicans in Congress. Obama also tried to paint his Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, as an extremist on immigration, saying Romney supports laws that could allow for people to be stopped and asked for papers based on an assumption that they are illegal

.New Mexico

plant wants to slaughter horses

ROSWELL | The owner of a New Mexico slaughterhouse is defending his plan to become the first plant in the nation since 2007 to handle horses after an outcry from animal activists.

Valley Meat Co. owner Rick De Los Santos said he's trying to revive his failing business and that what he's proposing is legal.

The horses he plans to process are being slaughtered anyway in Mexico and his operation would be overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and meet much higher standards, he said.

Texas

Hostess workers asked for cost cuts

DALLAS | The company that makes Twinkies and Ding Dongs says it's making a final offer to workers to accept cost-cutting before it asks a bankruptcy court to impose the cuts.

Hostess Brands Inc. wants the Teamsters and bakers' unions to accept reduced pension benefits and changes in work rules to lower costs. It also wants to outsource delivery work. A union official said efforts to throw out collective bargaining agreements could lead to a strike.

Montana

'mountain man'to seek parole

HELENA | A notorious "mountain man" who abducted a world-class athlete in 1984 to keep as a wife for his son will appear later this month in front of the Montana Parole Board.

Nichols gained notoriety for the bizarre crime and prolonged manhunt in the wilderness northwest of Yellowstone National Park that ended when a sheriff stormed his camp.

Over the years he has reportedly become more apologetic for taking Kari Swenson.

LOAD-DATE: April 15, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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Advertising Age

April 16, 2012

SOCIAL TV TIMELINE

SECTION: Pg. 4 Vol. 83

LENGTH: 581 words

MARCH 2007

ABCFamily.com hosts an "online viewing party" for the season finale of "Wildfire" so that viewers could watch together and chat via the web.

JUNE 2007

The first iPhone goes on sale and ignites smartphone fever in the U.S. (More than 100 million Americans now own smartphones, many of which end up snuggled up with TV viewers.)

MTV begins working with Twitter, a microblogging service that's less than a year old and has fewer than 1 million users. Comedian @azizansari live-tweeted the MTV Movie Awards: "I was asked to twitter. I'm just on the red carpet. Jason farted near Jay-Z."

2008

Presidential election cycle: Cable network Current TV was the first to put tweets on-air during the show: "Hack the Debate."

JANUARY 2009

CNN live-streams President Barack Obama's inauguration online alongside a feed of Facebook comments.

SEPTEMBER 2009

Fox airs an episode of social-TV pioneer "Glee" with tweets running along the bottom of the screen. Some viewers complain ticker covers what they're trying to watch.

APRIL 2010

Apple releases the iPad and sells 300,000 on the first day. (Gartner Research forecasts that more than 118 million tablets will be sold worldwide this year.)

SEPTEMBER 2010

ABC launches an iPad app for "My Generation" that "listens" to content on screen and serves up corresponding poll questions and trivia. It is among the first network-produced "co-viewing apps" designed to be digital companions to shows. ABC has since launched similar apps for "Grey's Anatomy" and the Oscars.

FEBRUARY 2011

Audi runs the first Twitter hashtag (#ProgressIs) in a Super Bowl commercial. The game spawns 1.8 million public comments on Facebook and Twitter, according to social-data tracker Bluefin Labs.

APRIL 2011

GetGlue, a mobile app that asks users to publish to social networks what they're watching on TV, reaches 1 million users after less than a year on the market.

AUGUST 2011

Beyonce reveals her baby bump during the MTV Video Music Awards, and the news explodes on social sites. During the show, #VMA was the most-mentioned term on Twitter, followed by "Beyonce," according to Bluefin.

SEPTEMBER 2011

Social-TV startup Miso partners with DirecTV to synchronize its mobile-app content with what's on TV. Later, Miso also links with AT&T U-verse.

NOVEMBER 2011

Simon Cowell's "X Factor" premieres in America and introduces Twitter voting.

JANUARY 2012

Robert F.X. Sillerman's latest endeavor, Function(x), launches the Viggle app, a "loyalty program for TV."

FEBRUARY 2012

During the Super Bowl, viewers produce 12,233 tweets a second, contributing to more than 12.2 million public Twitter and Facebook comments, according to Bluefin. (In 2008, the Big Game scored 27 tweets a second.) Of the comments this year, 1.2 million concern commercials. Eight Super Bowl commercials included a hashtag, including #makeitplatinum for Bud Light and #mushymush for Hulu. H&M's David Beckham Bodywear spot garners the largest comment volume.

The Grammy Awards on CBS generates the most social-media comments to date for a TV event-13 million-vs. 3.4 million during the Oscars and 880,000 for the State of the Union address.

Election season: Fox News integrates #answer and #dodge hashtags into the South Carolina GOP debate broadcast. Mitt Romney's explanation for not releasing his tax records generates the evening's biggest #dodge reaction.

FUTURE: Watch out for the London Olympics on NBC and the general election to be major social-media events, and for social to be more integrated with TV production.

LOAD-DATE: April 19, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Magazine

JOURNAL-CODE: AA

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The Associated Press

April 16, 2012 Monday 10:08 PM GMT

Baldwin, Folds to press for more US arts funding

BYLINE: By BRETT ZONGKER, Associated Press

SECTION: ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

LENGTH: 688 words

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

Alec Baldwin visited the nation's capital on Monday to press for increased federal funding for the arts after government dollars were cut last year, saying such funding ensures the public affordable access to theater, dance and music.

The actor for NBC's "30 Rock" told The Associated Press he was returning to Congress to press for arts funding after the culture wars of the 1990s first drew him into the same debate about 20 years ago. Part of his passion, he said, was protecting freedom of expression through the arts, as well as arts education.

Baldwin, 54, said his own industry of TV and film is often like the "potato chip business it's junk food." For more sophisticated arts, he said he has to go out and find music, theater or dance programs just like anyone else. But for him, a night out for culture isn't an issue.

"There are tremendous parts of the country right now where there's a need for federal funding for the arts in order to bring that to people on a level that they can afford," he said. "We still have a cultural heritage to protect in this country. This is what's going to enrich people's lives."

Baldwin said the nation has fallen far short of its high of about $176 million in arts funding in 1992. When accounting for inflation since then, he argues, the U.S. should be spending about $100 million more on the arts than it is.

For 2012, the arts endowment received about $147 million a $22 million cut since 2010.

"If I had any influence, I'd want the (National Endowment for the Arts) to have a budget of a billion dollars," Baldwin said. "We spend too much money on war in this country."

Baldwin was to deliver an arts policy lecture Monday night at the Kennedy Center to a sold-out audience, and he also was taking his case to the National Press Club before planning to head to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to urge lawmakers to boost arts funding.

Pianist and singer Ben Folds, 45, who is also a judge on NBC's "The Sing-Off," planned to join Baldwin and hundreds of arts advocates from across the country in lobbying Congress.

Folds said he hears from parents and students while he's traveling about how highly they value having band or music classes in school.

"I'm just a walking example of someone who would be maybe bussing tables right now at best if it wasn't for my arts education," Folds told AP, recalling his second and third-grade years of singing and learning to read music while playing a simple recorder.

Those kinds of arts programs that emphasize creativity and help build problem-solving skills have been cut back as standardized tests emphasized achievement in reading, math and science, he said.

Robert Lynch, president of the lobbying group Americans for the Arts, said winning increased funding for 2013 will be challenging but not impossible.

President Barack Obama's budget has called for an $8 million increase after cutbacks in recent years.

Funding the arts, meanwhile, is shaping up as one more election-year issue.

Likely Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has said he would eliminate funding for PBS and the arts endowment to help balance the federal budget.

Lynch said he doubts Republicans would go that far. Romney was supportive of arts funding as governor of Massachusetts and understood how the arts cam contribute to economic growth with jobs and by generating tax dollars, Lynch said.

"I just believe that all of the candidates out there are rational people," he said.

Romney has said private funding should fill the void of federal dollars. One way would be adding commercials to public broadcast stations, he has said.

Lynch said arts funding provides seed money to help draw private support and donations to symphonies, theater companies and performing arts centers across the country.

With about 110,000 nonprofit arts organizations nationwide and 40,000 federal and state arts grants given out each year, he said federal funding is part of the infrastructure of the arts industry. Arts-related business also sends tax money back to government coffers, he said.

Americans for the Arts: http://www.artsusa.org/

Follow Brett Zongker on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DCArtBeat

LOAD-DATE: April 17, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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ClimateWire

April 16, 2012 Monday

POLITICS: Romney, appealing to independents, won't soften on climate change

SECTION: SPOTLIGHT Vol. 10 No. 9

LENGTH: 1140 words

Evan Lehmann, E&E reporter

Republican strategists predict that Mitt Romney could intensify his attacks on the president's energy policies, including perhaps on past efforts to reduce carbon emissions, now that the former Massachusetts governor is accelerating into the general election race.

But several said it's unlikely Romney will return to the position he held on climate change last summer, when he expressed belief in humans' contribution to climatic alterations. The climate issue is "dead" in this election, said one strategist who believes in global warming.

Romney raced into his new role as the presumptive nominee last week with a cascade of blows casting President Obama's economic policies as a failure for women, a category of voters with whom Obama enjoys a double-digit lead over Romney in polling. He accused the president Tuesday of waging a "war on women."

With the tone of the race sharpening, Romney could increasingly use similar economic criticisms to challenge Obama's claims of supporting expanded fossil fuel production, like oil and natural gas drilling, the strategists say.

The intent, in part, would be to portray the president as an exclusive supporter of renewable energy sources, thereby limiting his appeal among voters, including independents, who favor choices among all resources, said Mike McKenna, a Republican energy adviser and lobbyist who is unaffiliated with the Romney campaign.

"He's imprinted on the voters' minds as being the renewable energy president," McKenna said, suggesting that Obama is inextricably linked to the green policies he pursued earlier in his term, like the economic stimulus package, cap and trade, and the clean energy standard.

That might not be a detriment in another time, but with gasoline prices climbing against the backdrop of an overcast economy, Republicans see benefits in preventing Obama from pivoting to an "all of the above" approach.

"In trying to sell himself as the pro-production president, [Obama's] got the mirror image of the problem George Bush had," McKenna said. "George Bush, creator of ethanol, kept trying to sell, 'Hey, I'm the green president.' Well, dude, you can't spend the first 30 years of your life being an oil and gas guy and then say, 'Hey, I'm really an ethanol and solar power guy.' Obama's got the same problem." Energy skirmishes in battleground states

As if on cue, the Romney campaign launched an attack Thursday afternoon called the "magical misery tour." It portrays the Obama campaign airing television ads in swing states as an attempt to sidestep concerns about gas prices.

"After three years of promising change, the only thing that the President has delivered is gas prices twice as high as the day he took office," Andrea Saul, a Romney spokeswoman, said in a statement.

The Obama ad touts the president's record of raising fuel economy standards and increasing renewable energy. It also accuses Romney of siding with fossil fuel companies, which, the ad says, are financing a television campaign to discourage alternative fuel sources.

"In all these fights, Mitt Romney stood with Big Oil, for their tax breaks, attacking higher mileage standards and renewables," the ad says. "So when you see these ads, remember who paid for them and what they want."

The Obama ad is airing in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia -- key battleground states where independents could tilt the race in November. Not coincidentally, a super PAC supporting Romney, Crossroads GPS, is airing its own ads in those same states.

An energy adviser for the Romney campaign said sustained messaging about gas prices will continue through the summer, even if prices inch downward. It strikes at Obama's perceived weakness on economic policy and also emphasizes Democratic tendencies to use overbearing government regulations, the adviser said.

"You don't need to get more complicated than that," the Romney adviser said. "They know when they go to the pump and begin to fill up, it costs a lot of money." Renewables 'tainted'

Throughout the primary contest, Romney rarely mentioned renewable energy, unless he was denigrating Obama's use of loan guarantees to help finance companies like the failed solar panel manufacturer Solyndra.

Romney will increasingly be courting moderate voters before the general election, but GOP strategists don't expect him to ramp up his support for renewable energy programs. The Romney energy adviser said alternative sources have been "tainted" by the idea that they're expensive and require subsidies.

Another GOP energy adviser, whose candidate dropped out of the primary race, said: "While Obama will talk about 'all the above,' he'll do it with a wink and smile. I think Gov. Romney will have an opportunity to talk about 'all of the above' as a complete energy strategy that encompasses all energy from coal through renewables."

This adviser, who believes that humans are contributing to climate change, sees no electoral benefit for Romney to soften his stance on global warming. Romney has backed away from the position he took in June, when he said, "It's important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may be significant contributors."

The adviser added: "From my perspective, climate change is just one of those dead issues that has little resonance as it relates to [energy] independence. It is an issue that certainly people have concern over, but it's not one of those things that we saw drove people's voting patterns." Who will campaign with cap and trade first?

Another climate-related issue, however, stands a chance of re-emerging before November: cap and trade.

McKenna believes Romney will eventually criticize the president for supporting the carbon-pinching policy, even though that brings its own risks to the Republican challenger, who once supported a similar program in Massachusetts.

"He's a little bit impaired by his own personal history on the subject. But he'd be really dopey if he didn't," McKenna said. "I expect we're going to hear something about cap and trade."

But the Romney adviser cautioned against that strategy, saying the "fresh material" related to gas prices is a simpler message with fewer risks. The adviser, however, did not rule out the possibility that Obama might target Romney for his past support of the carbon program.

"He might," the adviser said. But "I'm not sure that helps him at all, because it sort of reminds people of what he pushed."

Still, 10 days ago, Obama raised the subject to portray the Republican Party as being more conservative than it was in decades past.

"Cap and trade was originally proposed by conservatives and Republicans as a market-based solution to solving environmental problems," Obama said. "Now you've got the other party essentially saying we shouldn't even be thinking about environmental protection."

LOAD-DATE: May 15, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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CNN Wire

April 16, 2012 Monday 9:52 PM EST

Romney camp taps longtime aide for VP search, but trails in latest poll

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 1461 words

DATELINE: WASHINGTON (CNN)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Mitt Romney's campaign confirmed Monday that a trusted aide of the former Massachusetts governor will lead the search for his running mate in November, as the presumptive Republican nominee trails President Barack Obama by 9 points in the latest CNN/ORC International nationwide poll.

Beth Myers, who served as chief of staff when Romney was governor of Massachusetts and managed his 2008 presidential campaign, will head the search effort, according to Romney's campaign, which confirmed comments by Romney in an interview with ABC News to be broadcast Monday night.

"This weekend was the first time we seriously really talked about it and there are some wonderful people out there," Romney said in a preview of the interview released by ABC News.

Obama's 52%-43% lead in the first CNN poll since Rick Santorum suspended his Republican bid for the White House highlighted a perception among respondents that the president is more likeable and more in touch with the problems facing women and middle class Americans, according to the poll.

Romney was celebrating Patriots' Day in his hometown of Boston and watched the Red Sox lose to Tampa Bay, 1-0, at Fenway Park. Romney was joined by son Tagg and a grandson to watch along with supporters who won a promotion called "Patriots' Day with Mitt."

In Massachusetts, Patriots' Day commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord, which launched the Revolutionary War. It also is the date of the Boston Marathon.

Earlier Monday, a campaign official responded to reports that Romney had floated the possibility of eliminating or restructuring certain government agencies, saying he was tossing out ideas, not unveiling policy.

At a fundraiser in Palm Beach, Florida, the night before, Romney said, as part of ideas aimed at reforming Washington, he would combine some government agencies and eliminate others, according to accounts from reporters who overheard Romney's remarks, including one from the Wall Street Journal, while standing outside the venue where he was making his pitch.

Romney suggested he might eliminate the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which his father, George, once headed, and either consolidate or reduce the size of the Education Department.

Now the candidate is getting a tiny bit more specific about his plans.

According to the Journal, Romney "said he would eliminate or limit for high-earners the mortgage interest deduction for second homes, and likely would do the same for the state income tax deduction and state property tax deduction."

Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul responded to the comments, saying her candidate is tackling bold issues while President Barack Obama is "interested only in offering excuses and blaming others for his failures."

Meanwhile, the pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action unleashed an online and TV commercial directly targeting Romney's "anti-middle class" tax policy, timed to Tax Day, April 17. The ad is the first part of a multimillion-dollar campaign attacking Romney focusing on the battleground states of Florida, Iowa, Ohio and Virginia.

With no primaries in the Republican presidential race until next week, Romney will focus on fundraising with events in North Carolina and Pennsylvania in coming days, while Ann Romney is scheduled to hold a birthday-themed fundraiser in New York on Tuesday. Mrs. Romney turned 63 on Monday.

In addition, her husband will address the Tri-State Tea Party Caucus in Philadelphia on Monday night, when the joint interview on ABC will be broadcast.

Obama, meanwhile, is scheduled to campaign in Michigan this week, while first lady Michelle Obama will be in the District of Columbia, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Vice President Joe Biden will host events in the District of Columbia, Arizona and California.

While Romney is positioned as the likely Republican presidential candidate in November, he still needs several hundred delegates to clinch the nomination over remaining rivals Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

The next primaries are April 24 in Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

On Sunday, both parties continued jockeying to position themselves as more deserving of the female vote, a battle that took on new life last week after a Democratic strategist questioned Ann Romney's standing to give her husband advice on economic issues affecting women.

The criticism from Hilary Rosen, also a CNN contributor, rekindled the national conversation on whether Republicans or Democrats are better equipped to improve economic conditions for women.

Polls show a majority of female voters favor Obama over Romney, and Rosen's comment that Ann Romney never worked outside the home and therefore was unqualified to provide her husband with advice on women's economic issues gave Republicans a line of attack against Democrats.

On morning talk shows, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner defended the Obama administration's record on job creation and accused Romney of leveling "ridiculous" accusations against the president's policies. He specifically pointed to Romney's claim that 92.3% of jobs lost since Obama took office were held by women.

"It's a ridiculous and deeply misleading look at the economy," Geithner said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "Remember, the recession and the crisis started at the beginning of 2008 before the president took office. It caused a huge amount of damage to men, to women, to families. And the damage lasted for a time, and you're still seeing the scars of that."

The 92.3% figure was batted back and forth to jab Obama in the latest skirmish. Although the number is correct, many observers say it is misleading because it fails to reflect the depth of the recession that began before Obama took office, with many more men than women losing their jobs in that period.

Geithner stressed the downturn "hurt everybody" and unsurprisingly rallied behind the president's proposals, including the "Buffett Rule," which he said is part of a comprehensive plan that will continue to improve the country's economic outlook.

In a CNN/ORC poll released Monday, seven in 10 respondents said they favor the bill named for billionaire financier Warren Buffett that would require people earning $1 million a year or more to pay at least 30% in taxes. It is intended to prevent the wealthy from paying a lower actual tax rate than middle class workers.

The Democratic-controlled Senate was to take a procedural vote later Monday on whether to move the measure to the Senate floor but it was expected to fall short of the 60 votes needed.

Romney backers, including Republicans Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, argued that the former Massachusetts governor is armed with proposals that will not only court female voters, but also turn the economy around.

McCain, the 2008 GOP presidential nominee, predicted Romney would win the female vote, despite the gender gap in current polling.

"I do believe that Ann Romney was right when she said the women she talks to and the women I talk to, traveling around my state, are interested in jobs and the economy," McCain said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "There's no doubt that a lot of women have been hurt very badly in this recession. And jobs and the economy is their No. 1 priority."

In the CNN/ORC poll released Monday, women voters back Obama over Romney by 16 points, 55% to 39%. A recent poll from ABC News/Washington Post showed Obama leading Romney among women, 57% to 38%.

Rodgers, who was one of the women dispatched by the Romney campaign to capitalize on Rosen's comment last week, told CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley that Romney's policies will "help women succeed in this country and all people in this country succeed."

"President Obama's policies are the ones that are failing Americans, failing women," she added on CNN's "State of the Union."

Most Americans overwhelmingly support women working outside the household, according to a new CNN/ORC survey, with nine in 10 saying the number of women in the workplace is a good thing, a significant change from attitudes on that topic in the 1980s and 1990s.

The back-and-forth over female support is the latest Twitter- and cable-fed controversy to demonstrate that the general election between Romney and Obama is already under way.

On CNN's "State of the Union," Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus would not yet characterize Romney as the "presumptive nominee" out of respect for Gingrich and Paul, who are far behind in the delegate count but remain in the race.

However, Priebus said Romney's significant advantages on all fronts make it highly likely he will face Obama for the presidency.

CNN's Paul Steinhauser, Rachel Streitfeld and Tom Cohen contributed to this report.

LOAD-DATE: April 17, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: Update, 5:52 p.m. -- Adds Romney comments from Sunday fundraisers on combining, eliminating govt agencies and tax reform; updates Romney, guests at Patriots' Day at Fenway Park; adds CNN polls released Monday; updates with vote coming on Buffett Rule; updates with CNN/ORC polls released at 4 p.m.; add pro-Obama super PAC to release first ads directed at Romney

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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CNN Wire

April 16, 2012 Monday 4:19 PM EST

Romney gets 'fat cat' treatment

BYLINE: By Gabriella Schwarz, CNN Producer

LENGTH: 417 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- The liberal MoveOn.org took on Mitt Romney's opposition to the "Buffett Rule" through a play off the Lolcats meme in a new ad released Monday, according to the group.

The 30-second spot, set to run on cat-themed Animal Planet programming, accuses Romney of letting "fat cats rig the system" through a series of images that show large felines on a private jet and swimming in money, among other rich-themed scenarios.

"When the wealthiest one percent pay a fair tax rate like the rest of us it keeps the American dream alive for everyone," the narrator in the commercial said. "So tell Mitt Romney, kittens are cute. One percent fat cats who won't pay their fair share? Eh, not so much."

Although the independent organization would not disclose the size of the ad buy, they said the spot would run on numerous Animal Planet shows, including "Big Cat Diary," "My Cat From Hell," "Cats 101" and 'Too Cute Kittens," coinciding with Tax Day and Monday's Senate vote on the "Buffett Rule."

The provision, opposed by leading Republicans including presumptive nominee Romney, would level a minimum tax rate on high income earners. Proponents of the President Barack Obama-backed measure argue the change would constitute a fairer tax code while opponents of the law point to the relatively low revenue expected from the rule.

Romney has voiced opposition to the bill, named after investor Warren Buffett, calling it a "new source of division" by targeting the most successful in the country.

But MoveOn.org Executive Director Justin Ruben used the ad as a chance to criticize the former Massachusetts governor and former executive as a "fat cat" himself.

"Americans who have been playing by the rules are losing because fat cats like Mitt Romney are playing by a completely different rulebook," Ruben said in a statement. "President Obama's Buffett Rule is a basic first step towards asking fat cat millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share like the rest of us kitties."

The Republican National Committee continued their criticism of the rule in response to the ad.

"This is just another Obama shiny object designed to distract from his failure to turn the economy around," press secretary Kirsten Kukowski said in a statement. "Raising only enough money to run the federal government for 11 hours, President Obama has been unable to sell the tax gimmick even after holding over twenty events to do so and liberal groups pulling out all the stops."

Team Romney did not respond to a request for comment.

LOAD-DATE: April 17, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: Updated 12:18 p.m. -- adds RNC response grafs 9, 10

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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CNN Wire

April 16, 2012 Monday 4:13 PM EST

Pro-Obama super PAC to hit Romney on taxes

BYLINE: By Paul Steinhauser, CNN Political Editor

LENGTH: 177 words

DATELINE: Washington (CNN)

Washington (CNN) -- An independent super PAC that's backing President Barack Obama's re-election bid said Monday it's going up with a television commercial and on-line video that highlight's what the group calls the "anti-middle class" tax policy of all but certain Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

"His own tax return from last year reveals he made twenty one million dollars, yet paid a lower tax rate than many middle class families," the narrator in the spot said. "Now, Romney's proposing a huge new one hundred fifty thousand dollar tax -cut for the wealthiest one percent while cutting Medicare and education for us. Mitt Romney. If he wins, we lose."

Priorities USA Action will run the ad on television in Florida, Ohio, Iowa and Virginia, all considered crucial battleground states in November's presidential election, according to a source with knowledge of the ad buy, who said the release of the spot is timed to Tax Day.

The source said the spot's the first part of a multi-million dollar campaign that will run on television and on the web.

LOAD-DATE: April 17, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: Updated 12:12 p.m. -- adds quote graf 2

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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Daily News (New York)

April 16, 2012 Monday
SPORTS FINAL EDITION

'Short Arms' are tax-ing!

BYLINE: BY JOANNA MOLLOY

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 14

LENGTH: 559 words

In New York, we call the person who never picks up the check "Short Arms" - you know, they just can't reach that tab on the table or bar.

Short Arms is most objectionable when his or her pockets run so deep they can't reach all the way down into them - while everybody else pitches in.

"I didn't have an appetizer," Short Arms mumbles. "I only had one drink."

As we all hurry to file our tax returns to the feds before end of day Tuesday - some feeling pain, some getting money back - there's tons of talk on Capitol Hill and on the campaign trail about Short Arms.

Fact is, there are some who pick up less of their fair share of the national tab than everyone else - and, surprise, surprise, it's Short Arms being most objectionable again.

Regular working stiffs don't know where to turn, what with a measure backed by President Obama to tax millionaires at a greater rate expected to be defeated in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives this week.

"I paid about 32% of my pay when I was working, and 24% of my income now that I'm retired," said former cable slicer Patrick Welsh. He added that money is tight because Verizon, his former employer, hasn't given a cost of living increase to retirees in 20 years and is now asking them to pay thousands in health insurance premiums.

"I know I pay a higher percentage than (Mitt)Romney," he said, referring to how the likely GOP presidential nominee paid less than 15% in 2010.

Truck driver Jean Sassine feels the same pain. The father of two works a second job as a film location manager, but is still fighting J.P. Morgan Chase over foreclosure of his Queens Village home.

"I got laid off back in 2008 and my wife needed surgery, and I fell behind in my mortgage payments," Sassine told The News. "Chase won't give me a break - and taxes take a big chunk."

Tomorrow, Sassine and Welsh and up to 1,000 union members will join advocacy group UnitedNY in a show of support for passage of the so-called Buffett Rule. They'll gather outside of the city's Main Post Office, and they'll bring big hulahoops, so middle-class taxpayers can see what ginormous tax loopholes look like.

They're not saying the rich who are taxed at low rates are bad people. They're just saying these people are conveniently acting like their arms are too short to reach for their tab.

Romney paid 13.9% to the IRS last year on his 2010 income of $21.6 million because of a lower tax rate on earnings from invesments. Economist Paul Krugman has called that arrangement "indefensible." Forbes analyst Len Burman calls it "a ginormous loophole." Hello, hulahoop! We don't know what percentage of Romney's 2011 income he will pay to the taxman, because on Friday, he asked the IRS for an extension - potentially to Oct. 15, just before Election Day.

Seems like Romney doesn't desperately need that tax-return check, unlike so many Americans, some of whom get loans with high-interest rates against their expected returns.

Even President and Mrs. Obama paid a lower tax rate on their income than the retired cable splicer - 20.5% of their joint haul of $789,674.

But Obama appears to be thinking of others - people like Sassine and Welsh. Last week, he said: "If you're bringing in a million bucks or more a year, then the (Buffett) rule says you should pay the same percentage in taxes as middle-class families do."

jmolloy@nydailynews.com

LOAD-DATE: April 16, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: Truck driver Jean Sassine with his wife, Celeste, and their two children, Jean Andre Jr. and Cheyenne. John Taggart

DOCUMENT-TYPE: COLUMN

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The Deal Pipeline

April 16, 2012 Monday

Dems jump at chance to blast Romney's Bain ties

BYLINE: by Ira Teinowitz

LENGTH: 144 words

Less than a week after Mitt Romney effectively secured the Republican nomination, Democrats have launched TV ads ripping into his record at Bain Capital LLC. Priorities USA Action, the Super PAC formed to support President Obama, on Monday, April 16, launched a new ad that centers on a 1985 picture of Romney with others at Bain celebrating the closing of their first fund. Romney and the others are pictured with money sticking out of their pockets. "Mitt Romney - he made millions off companies that went bankrupt - while workers lost health and retirement," said the ad, which goes on to suggest that Romney would cut taxes for the wealthy while cutting services for the middle class and poor. Priorities USA called the ad the first part of a new campaign and said it would run in the battleground states of Florida, Iowa, Ohio and Virginia. - Ira Teinowitz

LOAD-DATE: May 8, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

DOCUMENT-TYPE: Article

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Web Publication

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The Frontrunner

April 16, 2012 Monday

Adelson Donates $5 Million To GOP Super PAC

SECTION: NATIONAL CAMPAIGN NEWS

LENGTH: 587 words

Politico (4/16, Bravender, 25K) reports that according to a campaign finance report filed Sunday night, "Sheldon Adelson, the casino mogul who buoyed Newt Gingrich's presidential bid, poured $5 million into a super PAC supporting establishment GOP candidates." The Congressional Leadership Fund "ended the month with $5.1 million in the bank, positioning the group to be a serious player in targeted House races across the country." The piece notes that the Adelsons' "shift to supporting the GOP establishment is a promising sign for party operatives, who are hoping to corral some of the deep-pocketed donors that have spent millions on warring super PACs so far this election cycle."

Anonymous Donor Gave Crossroads GPS $10 Million For Anti-Obama Ads.

The Washington Post (4/14, Farnam, 553K) reports, "An anonymous donor gave $10 million late last year" to Crossroads GPS "to run ads attacking President Obama and Democratic policies, escalating the money race that is defining the 2012 presidential campaign. And in the new, free-wheeling environment of independent political giving, the identity of this donor, like many others, is likely to remain a permanent mystery." Another donor gave the group $10 million "in the 2010 midterm elections, according to draft tax returns that provide the first detailed look at its finances." Politico (4/13, Slack) says, "Obama campaign press secretary Ben LaBolt took to Twitter on Friday to question the contributors' motivations: 'What special interest just gave $10 million to try to defeat @BarackObama? And what has @MittRomney promised them?'"

Democratic Super PACs Trail GOP Groups In Fundraising.

Politico (4/13, Vogel, Bravender) reports, "A network of Democratic outside groups boosting President Barack Obama and his congressional allies picked up its fundraising this year, but still lags woefully behind Republican outside groups that have already begun an attack-ad binge." The "four super PACs and a pair of linked non-profit groups" raised $7.9 million in the first quarter, "though the main pro-Obama super PAC, Priorities USA Action, has yet to release its March fundraising figures. Still, the running 2012 tally for the Democratic groups...is dwarfed by the $21.5 million raised in the first two months of the year alone" by Crossroads "and the pro-Mitt Romney Restore Our Future."

Reuters (4/13, Lindsey, Cooney, Beech) reports three Democratic Super PACs brought in a total of $5.7 million in the 1st quarter. Majority PAC, which is working to maintain the Democratic control of the Senate, took in $1.6 million, while House Majority PAC, its House counterpart, brought in $1.5 million. American Bridge, which does opposition research on Republicans, took in $2.6 million. The piece notes that the numbers pale in comparison to the fundraising of GOP Super PACs.

Obama Campaign Calls Super PACs "Number One Threat" To Re-Election.

Politico (4/14, Tau) reports, "The Obama campaign fundraising operation is asking supporters for donations to counter an anonymous $10 million donation to the GOP super PAC American Crossroads." Campaign manager Jim Messina wrote in an email to supporters, "This is cynical stuff -- a cold-blooded attempt to withhold from the public the names of the billionaires and corporations who are trying to buy our government. But we've got 1.8 million people so far who have stood up to be counted in support of President Obama. This new system of unlimited, anonymous giving is the number one threat to President Obama staying in office."

LOAD-DATE: April 16, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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Investor's Business Daily

April 16, 2012 Monday
NATIONAL EDITION

WEEKLY TOP 10

SECTION: THE IBD 50; Pg. B02

LENGTH: 663 words

Stocks Down Another Week

1 The market fought back from Mon.-Tue. losses, but renewed selling Fri. assured a 2 nd straight down week. The Nasdaq slid 2.2% and the S&P 500 2%. Weekly volume rose. Weaker economic reports in the U.S. and China and rising yields in Spain and Italy rattled investors. It also sent the Treasury benchmark yield back below 2%.

DOJ: Apple Fixed E-Book Price

2 The Justice Dept. and 15 states sued Apple and publishers Wed., saying they colluded to set e-book prices higher, preventing Amazon and others from lowering prices. The DOJ says this cost consumers $100 mil over 2 years. Apple said the claims were untrue, and asserted that its iBookstore helped break Amazon's e-book monopoly. Apple fell 4.5% for the week.

Romney Will Be GOP Nominee

3 Rick Santorum, the last major rival, bowed out. Mitt Romney, can now try to unify a divided GOP base while reaching out to independents. He trails Obama with women by a wide margin -- all due to single women -- but also lags among men, according to the latest IBD/TIPP poll. In a new culture war volley, a Dem pundit said Ann Romney, mother of 5, breast cancer survivor and MS sufferer, hadn't worked a day in her life. Other Dems were quick to disavow those remarks.

Spain Fails To Quell Debt Fears

4 The gov't announced additional austerity, this time aimed at health care spending, as it continues to tackle debt concerns. But investors still demanded higher Spanish debt yields as they soured on the banking sector's health and odds that regional gov'ts will rein in spending. Hints that the ECB may buy Spanish debt briefly lowered bond yields, but they shot back up on reports the country's banks increased reliance on ECB loans.

Chinese Loans, Exports Surge

5 Consumer price inflation accelerated in March as food costs spiked. But producer prices fell. The March trade balance swung to a surplus of $5.35 bil from a Feb. deficit of $31.5 bil on improved exports. New bank lending jumped more than 90 times in March, a sign of more aggressive easing in gov't credit policies. But Q1 GDP growth of 8.1% fell short of views.

Google Split Divides Investors

6 The search giant's Q1 earnings per share rose 25% to $10.08, far above views. Despite a 39% hike in paid clicks, core revenue of $8.135 bil just missed views. Google also plans a 2-for-1 split, creating new nonvoting shares that let cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and ex-CEO Eric Schmidt keep tight control of the company. Google shares fell 4.1% on Friday.

JPM, Wells Say Housing Better

7 JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo on Fri. cited an improving housing market in their better-than-expected Q1 earnings. JPMorgan new-loan volume climbed 6% and applications climbed 33%. Wells, the No. 1 U.S. mortgage lender, issued 54% more home loans and said applications surged 84%. Shares of both fell 2.6% for the week. Citigroup reports Mon. Bank of America and Morgan Stanley are due Thu.

N. Korea Missile Disintegrates

8 The long-range rocket broke up over the Yellow Sea. Western nations and S. Korea said the launch was an excuse for N. Korea to test its military power. Iran said it would issue new proposals for talks with world powers about its uranium enrichment. Western diplomats doubted they would be adequate.

Farm Gear Stores Reap Profits

9 Tractor Supply said Q1 EPS more than doubled to 53-55 cents vs. views of 32 cents. Sales rose 20% to $1.02 bil, beating estimates. It said warm weather may have pulled some Q2 sales forward, but it raised full-year profit guidance. Shares rose 7% in 2 days to 98.38. Tractor retailer Titan Machinery soared 32% for the week to 36 after blowout results.

Syria's Peace -- Fewer Killed

10 Pres. Bashar Assad acknowledged the joint U.N.-Arab League cease-fire deadline of April 12 but issued warnings that his troops were ready to deal with terrorists. Guns were largely silent Thu. Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets Fri. Rebels say at least 5 were killed by gov't forces during the demonstrations.

LOAD-DATE: April 13, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri)

April 16, 2012 Monday
THIRD EDITION

NATION DIGEST

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. A6

LENGTH: 432 words

DATELINE: 0

Voting on dueling tax plans

Democrats and Republicans are forcing votes in Congress this week on competing tax plans that would affect millionaires and smaller businesses, and they know the proposals are doomed from the start. Their efforts, including a Senate vote today on President Barack Obama's "Buffett rule" proposal to impose a minimum tax on the wealthiest Americans, are aimed at voters in November's congressional and presidential elections.

Geithner rips Romney's claim on job losses - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says a claim by Mitt Romney about disproportionate job losses by women during the administration of President Barack Obama is "misleading and ridiculous." Romney said last week that 92.3 percent of jobs lost since Obama took office were lost by women. While the statistic is accurate, the recession began 13 months before Obama took office. Men have lost more jobs overall during the downturn - 3.4 million, compared with 1.8 million lost by women. Geithner notes that manufacturing and construction job losses were heavy in the early days of the recession, while professions with more women, such as teaching, were hurt later. Geithner spoke Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Congressman warns Secret Service - A Secret Service scandal involving prostitutes in Colombia probably isn't an isolated incident, and the agency should ensure it doesn't happen again, says U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. and chairman of a House investigative panel. He said Sunday that lawmakers would be looking "over the shoulder" of the Secret Service.

Ex-EPA chief warns about chemicals - Former Environmental Protection Agency chief Christine Todd Whitman has urged current EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to close loopholes in a 2006 chemical security law "before a tragedy of historic proportions occurs."

Ticket for Titanic sold - A New York auction house has sold an original ticket to the launching of the Titanic and a menu from the ill-fated ocean liner. On the block Sunday at Bonhams were items to mark the centennial of the sinking of the Titanic. The ticket fetched $56,250; the menu, $31,250.

Nursing homes' disaster plans blasted - Tornado, hurricane or flood, nursing homes are woefully unprepared to protect frail residents in a natural disaster, government investigators say. Emergency plans required by the government often lack specific steps such as coordinating with local authorities, notifying relatives or even pinning name tags and medication lists to residents in an evacuation, according to the findings.

Read more national news at stltoday.com/news/national

LOAD-DATE: April 17, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: Mike Brown o Commercial Appeal/Associated Press Danyale Jones spits a live crawfish from her mouth as she competes Sunday in the bobbing for crawfish competition at the 20th annual Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival in Memphis, Tenn. More than 8 tons of crawfish were cooked.

DOCUMENT-TYPE: BRIEF

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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UPI

April 16, 2012 Monday 1:45 PM EST

Super PAC ads bring up Romney's past

LENGTH: 178 words

DATELINE: WASHINGTON, April 16

The pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action is unleashing a television ad and online campaign depicting Republican Mitt Romney as an out-of-touch millionaire.

Yahoo! News reported Monday it had gotten an early peak at the ad, which features a photo of the GOP presidential hopeful and his Bain Capital colleagues celebrating the 1985 closing of their first fund. The ad intimates Romney's past as an investment capitalist would influence his policy proposals and result in more tax cuts for the wealthy, Yahoo! News said.

Democratic strategist Paul Begala said Romney believes in "trickle-down" economics and the middle class "can't afford his policies."

"Governor Romney's made a fortune on the backs of the businesses he helped destroy. He profited even while thousands of men and women were fired and lost benefits they were promised," Begala said.

In the ad, the narrator intones: "Now, Romney's proposing a huge new one-hundred-fifty-thousand-dollar tax cut for the wealthiest 1 percent while cutting Medicare and education for us. â[#x20ac]¦ Mitt Romney. If he wins, we lose."

LOAD-DATE: April 17, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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The Washington Post

April 16, 2012 Monday
Regional Edition

Axelrod TKO-ed by Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday

BYLINE: Jennifer Rubin

SECTION: EDITORIAL COPY; Pg. A13

LENGTH: 311 words

Axelrod knocked downon Fox News Sunday

David Axelrod was shredded by Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday. Wallace kept Axelrod on defense and off balance throughout the segment.

Like his former boss, Axelrod seems almost at a loss to respond once the talking points are challenged. But I imagined his invitation to choose "between economy that produces a growing middle class and gives people a chance to get ahead and their kids a chance to get ahead, and an economy that continues down the road we are on, and everybody else is running faster and faster just to keep pace," might just become a Mitt Romney campaign ad. Obviously, the only thing left to do is to scare people that unless we reelect President Obama we'll be going back to the bad old days of President George W. Bush.

There was plenty more that Axelrod said that was downright wrong or misleading. He "accuses" Romney of wanting the rich to pay at a lower tax rate; what he doesn't say is both Romney and the Simpson-Bowles plan take away deductions and credits so the rich won't be paying less taxes relative to the rest of the population.

He used the president's favorite straw man: "No one can argue that it makes sense that people who are making a million dollars a year or more to pay less than the average middle-class worker in this country." And no one is. In fact the top 10 percent of earners have been paying roughly 70 percent of the taxes. The bottom 50 percent pay about 3 percent of the tax load.

But let's take a step back. Where in this is a plan to accelerate growth and job creation? How does creating a sort of new minimum tax for 4,000 taxpayers assist in the recovery? Maybe that's why Obama and Axelrod spend so much time on gimmicks and phony "fairness" arguments. They haven't got a clue how to create an economic environment in which investors, employers and consumers will all benefit.

LOAD-DATE: April 16, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

DISTRIBUTION: Every Zone

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The Associated Press

April 17, 2012 Tuesday 01:00 AM GMT

AP News in Brief at 8:58 p.m. EDT;
Monday, April 16, 2012

SECTION: DOMESTIC NEWS

LENGTH: 2140 words

GOP derails Senate 'Buffett rule' tax boost, rejecting Obama plan to set minimum tax on rich

WASHINGTON (AP) Senate Republicans derailed a Democratic "Buffett rule" bill Monday forcing the nation's top earners to pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes, using the day before Americans' taxes are due to defy President Barack Obama on one of his signature election-year issues.

By a near party-line 51-45 tally, senators voted to keep the bill alive but fell nine votes short of the 60 needed to continue debating the measure. The anti-climactic outcome was no surprise to anyone in a vote that was designed more to win over voters and embarrass senators in close races than to push legislation into law.

At the White House, Obama denounced the vote, saying Republicans chose "once again to protect tax breaks for the wealthiest few Americans at the expense of the middle class." In a statement issued after the vote, he said he would keep pressing Congress to help the middle class.

"It's just plain wrong that millions of middle-class Americans pay a higher share of their income in taxes than some millionaires and billionaires," he said.

Republicans called the measure a divisive Democratic distraction from the nation's real problems that would not address the economy's real woes.

Don't expect a shock: Romney running mate search guided by his methodical style, Palin lessons

BOSTON (AP) Don't look for a vice presidential shocker from Mitt Romney. His choice of a running-mate a search he announced Monday he has begun will be guided by both his methodical, risk-averse corporate training and the lessons his party learned from Sarah Palin's selection.

Preparedness to serve and loyalty to Romney are likely to trump other credentials as the all-but-sure Republican nominee looks to avoid the blowback John McCain faced four years ago with his surprise choice of the little-known, first-term Alaska governor for the GOP ticket. Questions about Palin's readiness to serve, McCain's decision-making and his advisers' vetting came to define the Arizona senator's flawed campaign.

Mindful of that, Romney will put experience at the top of his list of qualities as he chooses a No. 2, according to senior advisers and GOP operatives familiar with his thinking. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak candidly about a process Romney himself is trying to keep as private as possible as he works to narrow a field that may begin with as many as a dozen prospective candidates.

"The hallmark for Governor Romney's candidacy, and how he would be as president, is that he approaches these decisions in a well-thought-out methodical way," said Steve Duprey, a former McCain adviser and current New Hampshire-based member of the Republican National Committee. "It won't be like the McCain campaign where there was a big surprise and effort to create a game changer."

For all the secrecy surrounding the process, the former Massachusetts governor did give a few hints about his plans Monday, disclosing that he had chosen his former chief of staff and 2008 presidential campaign manager, Beth Myers, to lead the vetting and analysis of prospective running mates. Several other members of the tight-knit cadre that has surrounded Romney for years also are likely to be involved.

All eyes on Kabul as US gears up for what may be its last major offensive of Afghan war

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) For Taliban militants and U.S. strategists alike, all roads in this impoverished country of mountain passes, arid deserts and nearly impassable goat tracks lead to this ancient capital of 3 million people nestled in a high and narrow valley.

The Taliban made their intentions clear over the weekend, mounting spectacular coordinated attacks that spawned an 18-hour battle with Afghan and NATO forces. And now, the U.S. is gearing up for what may be the last major American-run offensive of the war a bid to secure the approaches to the city.

While bombings and shootings elsewhere in Afghanistan receive relatively little attention, attacks in the capital alarm the general population, undermine the government's reputation and frighten foreigners into fleeing the country. That's why insurgents on Sunday struck locations that were so fortified they could cause little or no damage, including the diplomatic quarter, the parliament and a NATO base.

"These are isolated attacks that are done for symbolic purposes, and they have not regained any territory," U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Monday.

The U.S.-led spring offensive, expected to begin in the coming weeks, may be NATO's last chance to shore up Kabul's defenses before a significant withdrawal of combat troops limits its options. The focus will be regions that control the main access routes, roads and highways into Kabul from the desert south and the mountainous east. These routes are used not only by militants but by traders carrying goods from Pakistan and Iran.

GSA official asserts right to remain silent as Congress begins hearings into spending scandal

WASHINGTON (AP) The General Services Administration investigator who revealed a wild agency spending spree said Monday he's investigating possible bribery and kickbacks, and has already recommended criminal charges to the Justice Department. The key figure in the scandal invoked his right to remain silent at the House hearing.

Inspector General Brian Miller made clear that he's not done investigating GSA current and former officials, following his lengthy report April 2 on an October 2010 Las Vegas conference that cost taxpayers $823,000.

The regional executive who hosted the Western Regions Conference, Jeffrey Neely, invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and his chair remained empty the rest of the House Oversight and Government Reform hearing. He could face a criminal investigation.

"We do have other ongoing investigations including all sorts of improprieties, including bribes, possibly kickbacks but I'd have to check on precisely kickbacks," Miller told the committee.

He added later, "We have recommended criminal charges."

AP wins Pulitzer for documenting police spying on Muslims; Pa. paper honored over Penn State

NEW YORK (AP) The Associated Press won a Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism Monday for revealing the New York Police Department's widespread spying on Muslims, while The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pa., and a 24-year-old reporter captured the award for local reporting for breaking the Penn State scandal that ultimately brought down Joe Paterno.

In a reflection of the forces reshaping the media world, the turmoil-ridden Philadelphia Inquirer won in the public service category for exposing pervasive violence in the city's schools, while David Wood earned a Pulitzer in national reporting for a relative newcomer, The Huffington Post, for stories about the suffering endured by American troops severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It was only the second Pulitzer ever awarded for reporting that appeared online only.

Another Pulitzer for investigative reporting was awarded to The Seattle Times for a series about accidental methadone overdoses among patients with chronic pain.

The New York Times won two prizes. David Kocieniewski was honored in the explanatory reporting category for a series on how wealthy people and corporations use loopholes to avoid taxes. And Jeffrey Gettleman received the award for international reporting for his coverage of famine and conflict in East Africa.

A cub reporter, an impudent weekly, a paper in financial straits go down in Pulitzer history

NEW YORK (AP) Sometimes the story behind the prize is almost as compelling as the award-winning news itself. Some details on a few of this year's Pulitzer Prize winners.

THE CUB REPORTER

Sara Ganim is a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting. She's just 24 years old.

She was not long out of college when, as a crime reporter for the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pa., she began digging into rumors of child sex abuse by Jerry Sandusky, a well-known former Penn State University assistant football coach. She kept at it when she left that paper to join The Patriot-News of Harrisburg in January 2011.

There, besides her coverage of crime and other events, she chipped away at the Sandusky story, lining up critical details and key sourcing that let her publish the first story in March 2011 that Sandusky was being investigated by a grand jury.

Joint chiefs chairman says military is 'embarrassed by military role in Colombia scandal

WASHINGTON (AP) The top U.S. military officer said Monday the nation's military leadership is embarrassed by allegations of misconduct against at least 10 U.S. military members at a Colombia hotel on the eve of President Barack Obama's visit over the weekend.

"We let the boss down," Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Pentagon news conference. He said he regretted that the scandal, which also involved 11 Secret Service agents accused of cavorting with prostitutes at the hotel, diverted attention from Obama's diplomacy at a Latin America summit.

"I can speak for myself and my fellow chiefs: We're embarrassed by what occurred in Colombia, though we're not sure exactly what it is," Dempsey added.

Pentagon officials said earlier Monday that the number of military members involved in the scandal appears to be greater than the five originally cited. One senior defense official said that at least 10 military members may have been involved. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter is under investigation.

Pentagon press secretary George Little said that military members who are being investigated were assigned to support the Secret Service in preparation for Obama's official visit to Cartagena. He said they were not directly involved in presidential security.

Boy, 9, tells school officials his mother, sister dead at Vegas home; police find father hurt

LAS VEGAS (AP) A 9-year-old boy arrived at school Monday with a grisly story: His mother and sister were dead at their home four blocks away.

Minutes later, police found the bodies of a 10-year-old girl and her mother along with a blood-covered father and an unharmed 4-year-old boy in a modest home in a West Las Vegas neighborhood, authorities said.

The five people belonged to a single family, police Officer Jacinto Rivera said.

The man, who was hospitalized with a head injury, was not immediately identified as a suspect or charged.

Police wouldn't immediately say how or when the slayings occurred, but Rivera said there was no immediate evidence of a break-in at the home or that a suspect was on the loose.

Federal contest results in super-efficient $60 light bulb, but rebates will bring price down

NEW YORK (AP) How much would you pay for an amazing, state-of-the-art light bulb? Shoppers will be asking themselves that very question at Home Depot and other outlets starting Sunday Earth Day when the bulb that won a $10 million government contest goes on sale.

The bulb is the most energy-efficient yet, lasts about 20 years and is supposed to give off a pleasing, natural-looking light. But what separates it from the pack most is the price: $60.

That price reflects the cost of the components, especially the top-notch chips, or diodes, that give off the light, and is the price commercial customers will pay. But the manufacturer, Netherlands-based Philips, is discounting it right away to $50 for consumers, and working on deals with electric utilities to discount it even further, by as much as $20 to $30.

This means the bulb will cost anywhere from $20 to $60, depending on where it's found. Online, consumers will be paying $50 for each bulb, because utilities don't subsidize online sales.

Congress launched the L Prize contest in 2007, with the goal of creating a bulb to replace the standard, energy-wasting "incandescent" 60-watt bulb. The requirements were rigorous, and Philips was the only entrant. Its bulb was declared the winner last year, after a year and a half of testing. The contest stipulated that the winning bulb be sold for $22 in its first year on the market.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine criticizes Kevin Youkilis, then apologizes to third baseman

BOSTON (AP) Kevin Youkilis' teammates came to his defense Monday after Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine questioned his commitment to the game and then apologized to his third baseman.

During an interview aired Sunday night on WHDH-TV, Valentine said he didn't think Youkilis was "as physically or emotionally into the game."

That drew a sharp response from Dustin Pedroia before Monday's 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

"I know he plays as hard as anybody I've ever seen in my life. I have his back and his teammates have his back," the second baseman said.

After the game, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez also supported his teammate.

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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

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The Associated Press

April 17, 2012 Tuesday 06:13 PM GMT

Pro-Obama super PAC runs ad bashing Mitt Romney

SECTION: POLITICAL NEWS

LENGTH: 121 words

DATELINE: NEW YORK

An independent group supporting President Barack Obama's re-election is spending $660,000 to run a TV ad in four states bashing Mitt Romney.

The ad by Priorities USA Action casts likely GOP presidential nominee Romney as a wealthy opportunist who would cut social programs as president to give tax cuts to higher income Americans.

The ads are running in Ohio, Iowa, Florida and Virginia. All four are expected to help determine the election outcome in November.

Priorities USA Action is a super PAC founded by two former Obama White House aides. It has struggled to keep pace with Republican-leaning super PACs like American Crossroads, which is spending $1.8 million on ads in six swing states criticizing Obama's energy policies.

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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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CNN Wire

April 17, 2012 Tuesday 7:04 PM EST

Obama targets speculators in latest gambit of oil-price politics

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 1004 words

DATELINE: WASHINGTON (CNN)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Barack Obama on Tuesday said the new measures he announced to limit speculation in oil markets will make amends to consumers for congressional Republicans blocking an end to subsidies for oil corporations.

"A few weeks ago, Congress had the chance to stand up for families already paying an extra premium at the pump, but congressional Republicans voted to keep spending billions of Americans' hard-earned tax dollars on more unnecessary subsidies for big oil companies," Obama said in his announcement in the Rose Garden. "So here's a chance to make amends."

Senate Republicans three weeks ago blocked a Democratic measure championed by Obama to end tax breaks for the major oil companies, which he said were enjoying record profits. Four Democrats crossed party lines to vote against the bill, but even if it had passed the Senate, it was given little chance in the Republican-controlled House.

Obama's proposal would require traders to put up more of their own money for transactions. It also would ask for more funding for market enforcement and monitoring, and increase penalties for manipulating markets.

Obama and Republicans have drawn lines over oil prices since they started to rise to near-record levels earlier this year.

Republicans say Obama hasn't done enough to stem the rise and advocate opening up more areas for drilling and approving projects like the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry oil from Canada to refineries in Texas. But analysts say such measures would have little effect on the current price of oil and gasoline.

Most Americans blame big oil for the spike in prices -- a recent CNN/ORC International poll showed that the majority blamed the oil companies while 24% blamed Obama and 21% blamed Republican policies.

Obama's announcement came a day after one of the elements of his tax policy was blocked by Republicans in the Senate.

The so-called Buffett Rule -- named after billionaire Warren Buffett, who says the tax rate he pays should be no lower than that of his secretary -- failed to get the necessary 60 votes to go to the Senate floor. The measure would have raised the minimum tax rate to 30% for those making more than $1 million a year.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said that Obama, by pushing the Buffett Rule, shows that the incumbent is "out of ideas" on the economy.

Speaking to the Tax Day Tea Summit in Philadelphia on Monday, Romney cited a calculation that the measure, which would have raised the minimum tax rate to 30% for those making between $1 million and $2 million, would have paid for "11 hours of government."

"This is not exactly a grand idea," Romney said. "This is a man who is out of ideas, he's out of excuses and in 2012 we're going to make sure he gets put out of office."

But a CNN/ORC poll released Monday found that seven in 10 respondents said they favored the bill.

Supporters of the millionaire tax say they will keep pushing the idea in the months ahead.

Romney's wife, Ann, was to be the guest of honor later Tuesday at a birthday celebration/fundraiser being held for her by Donald Trump's wife, Melania, at the couple's residence in Trump Tower in New York. Trump spokesman Michael Cohen said about 400 people were invited to the event, which was expected to bring in "well in excess" of $600,000.

Cohen said Trump will stop by the fundraiser to wish Ann Romney, who turned 63 on Monday, a happy birthday and he expects to host another fundraiser for the campaign at Trump Tower once Romney officially clinches the nomination.

First lady Michelle Obama will also be raising cash on Tuesday. She will speak at a Democratic National Committee event in Nashville, followed by two DNC fundraisers in Pittsburgh.

Romney could cross paths with the first lady when he holds a midday campaign roundtable at a community center in the Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park.

A CNN/ORC International poll released Monday showed Obama holds a 9-point advantage over his Republican opponent.

Obama's 52%-43% lead in the first CNN poll since rival Rick Santorum suspended his campaign highlighted a perception among respondents that the president is more likeable and more in touch with the problems facing women and middle class Americans, according to the poll.

A trusted aide of the former Massachusetts governor will lead the search for his running mate in November.

Beth Myers, who served as chief of staff when Romney was governor of Massachusetts and managed his 2008 presidential campaign, will head the search effort, Romney said in an interview broadcast on ABC News Monday night.

At a fundraiser in Palm Beach, Florida, the night before, Romney said that as part of ideas aimed at reforming Washington, he would combine some government agencies and eliminate others, according to accounts from reporters who overheard Romney's remarks, including one from the Wall Street Journal, while standing outside the venue where he was making his pitch.

Romney suggested he might eliminate the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which his father, George, once headed, and either consolidate or reduce the size of the Education Department.

Meanwhile, the pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action unleashed an online and TV commercial directly targeting Romney's "anti-middle class" tax policy, timed to Tax Day, Tuesday. The ad is the first part of a multimillion-dollar campaign attacking Romney focusing on the battleground states of Florida, Iowa, Ohio and Virginia.

CNNMoney's Steve Hargreaves and CNN's John Helton, Gabriella Schwarz and Shawna Shepherd contributed to this report.

LOAD-DATE: April 18, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: 3:04 p.m. -- Starts new series

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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CNN Wire

April 17, 2012 Tuesday 3:59 AM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Overnight Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 1202 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Saeed Ahmed -- 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

Mississippi-Abortion (12:30 a.m.)

Mississippi's governor has signed into law a bill that would require any physician performing abortions in the state to be a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and to have admitting privileges at an area hospital.

Oklahoma-Hot-Sauce-Baby (1 a.m.)

Two daycare workers at a Muscogee Creek Nation daycare have been charged with felony child abuse for feeding habanero hot sauce to a 13-month-old boy.

Australia-Afghanistan-Troops (1:30 a.m.)

Australia will pull out more than 1,500 troops from Afghanistan ahead of schedule, the nation's prime minister said.

Korea-Leader (2 a.m.)

Last week's unabashed failure of North Korea's TaepoDong-2 rocket launch didn't last long enough to teach technical experts much, if anything, about the Communist regime's engineering capabilities. But the West is learning a lot about the new leader from how he's conducted himself since.

Syria-Unrest (2:30 a.m.)

Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Monday night that the Syrian regime has lost all credibility. "They have lied to the international community, lied to their own people. And the biggest fabricator of the facts is Assad himself. His representatives are merely doing his bidding and under probably some not insignificant personal duress," she told "AC360."

Florida-Teen-Shooting (3 a.m.)

Mark O'Mara, the attorney for George Zimmerman, is confident his motion to have the Florida judge assigned to his client's case will be granted.

Norway-Breivik-Trial (3:30 a.m.)

The man accused of killing 77 people in a bomb-and-gun rampage in Norway last summer is expected to testify Tuesday.

DC-Space-Shuttle (4 a.m.)

At first light Tuesday, Discovery will fly out from the Kennedy Space Center one last time. The oldest of the three orbiters, with more than 148 million miles clocked, is going to the Smithsonian in Washington.

Russia-Wikileaks (4:30 a.m.)

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange plans to debut a talk show, "The World Tomorrow," on Russia's state-funded television network on Tuesday.

POL-Tax-Poll (5 a.m.)

As Americans rush to file their 2011 tax returns by Tuesday's deadline, a new poll showed more than two-thirds of them believe the revenue system benefits the wealthy while being unfair to average workers.

US-New-York-Terror-Trial (5:30 a.m.)

The trial of a Bosnian immigrant accused of plotting to bomb New York's subway system continues Tuesday, when his co-defendant Najibullah Zazi is expected to testify. Zazi pleaded guilty last year to a plot to detonate explosives in the subway system in September 2009.

Texas-Baby-Gabriel-Case (6 a.m.)

Gabriel Johnson was 8-months-old when he was last spotted alive in 2009 at a Texas motel. His mother, Elizabeth Johnson, allegedly told the father she killed the infant and put his body in a dumpster. Some answers to Gabriel's disappearance may surface at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, when opening statements are expected in the trial of another woman, Tammi Smith. She is accused of helping Johnson try to wrangle custody of the boy from his father, in order to adopt the little boy herself.

MED-Depression-Babies (6:30 a.m.)

A new study has found that depressed moms often behave in ways that disrupt babies sleep.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

INTERNATIONAL

US-Secret-Service-Colombia

The Secret Service has yanked the security clearances of 11 members accused of bringing prostitutes to a hotel in Colombia ahead of last week's pan-American summit, government officials with knowledge of the investigation said Monday.

US-Secret-Service

In Hollywood movies, they're often portrayed as danger-dodging men with dark glasses, smoothly working behind the scenes to protect the president at any cost. But a group of Secret Service members drew worldwide attention over the weekend for a different reason -- accusations of misconduct involving prostitutes. The incident -- which allegedly occurred when agents and officers brought prostitutes to a hotel in Colombia -- violates strict behavior rules in an agency that aims to stay out of the spotlight, and usually succeeds, experts and officials said.

Italy-Berlusconi-Trial

Women danced in their underwear at a "bunga bunga party" held by Silvio Berlusconi, a woman testified Monday at the former Italian prime minister's trial on charges of having sex with an underage prostitute, Italian media reported.

Afghanistan-Violence

The performance of Afghan forces in reacting to a series of sustained assaults shows that the country's security situation will not deteriorate after the departure of international troops scheduled for next year, President Hamid Karzai said Monday.

US-Iran-American-Heart-Attack

An American who suffered a heart attack last week during a commercial flight from Dubai to Seattle, Washington, is expected to return to the U.S. Tuesday after being treated in Iran, State Department officials told CNN Monday.

MONEY-World-Bank

American Jim Yong Kim was tapped Monday to be the next president of the World Bank, besting Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala following the first-ever challenge to the U.S. nominee in the institution's history.

France-Election-Explainer

French voters are preparing to elect a new president. CNN's Senior International Correspondent Jim Bittermann explains what the main themes of the election are, how the system works and who is likely to win.

U.S.A.

Oklahoma-Shootings

An Oklahoma judge entered not guilty pleas Monday for two men accused of killing three people in a shooting spree in a predominately African-American neighborhood in Tulsa this month, according to an attorney for one of the suspects.

Iowa-discrimination-lawsuit

A ruling is expected soon in a class-action suit filed in 2007, alleging that Iowa discriminated against approximately 6,000 African-Americans when it passed them up for jobs or promotions.

Indiana-Stage-Collapse-Sugarland

Jennifer Nettles, half of the country music duo Sugarland, said she was never asked to delay the band's show at the Indiana State Fair because of an approaching storm.

US-Pulitzer-Prize-Winners

Sara Ganim and members of The Patriot-News Staff in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, won the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting on Monday for their coverage of the spiraling Penn State sex abuse scandal.

US-Midwest-Storms

The death toll from a weekend tornado in Woodward, Oklahoma rose to six Monday with the death of a critically injured man in the hospital, a city official said.

MONEY-Buffett-Rule

A proposal to implement the Buffett Rule was blocked in the Senate on Monday, but proponents of the millionaire tax vowed to keep the issue alive in the months ahead.

POL-GSA-Hearing

A government official at the center of lavish spending at a Las Vegas conference claimed his Fifth Amendment rights against testifying at a congressional hearing Monday, while his former boss said she mourned her departure from public service over the controversy.

POL-Poll-Gender-Likeability

President Barack Obama holds a nine-point lead over Republican challenger Mitt Romney thanks in part to the perception that the president is more likeable and more in touch with the problems facing women and middle class Americans, according to a new national poll.

LOAD-DATE: April 17, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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Environment and Energy Daily

April 17, 2012 Tuesday

CAMPAIGN 2012: Focus on response, not science, urged as candidates gear up for election

SECTION: POLITICS Vol. 10 No. 9

LENGTH: 639 words

Elana Schor, E&E reporter

Focusing on how to respond to rising emissions -- as opposed to the politically volatile debate over climate science and man's role in global warming -- could help shape a more effective energy debate during this election season, environmental analysts of all stripes agreed yesterday.

That an American Enterprise Institute (AEI) scholar who calls clean energy jobs a "myth" would align with a Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) official whose new book slams House Republicans as captive to the oil industry might surprise many in Washington, D.C. But AEI's Kenneth Green and NRDC's Bob Deans sounded similar notes on the value of cross-aisle compromise in helping energy policymakers move past years of combat over climate change.

"You'd be better off just tabling the science question," Green said at a forum sponsored by the Environmental Law Institute (ELI). "The most important question" about greenhouse gas emissions, Green added, "is 'What are you going to do about it, and what are the costs?'"

Green and Deans concurred that the dwindling frequency of the phrase "climate change" on the campaign trail represents a signal of sorts that the U.S. political debate has reoriented toward responses to broader energy challenges. As ELI President John Cruden put it yesterday, the existence and causes of global warming represent "a scientific question, which [candidates] should defer to the scientific experts on."

The two sides diverged in a more predictable way on how to evaluate solutions.

Green called for "a standard methodology for cost-benefit assessment" of proposed environmental regulations, nodding to a House GOP effort to require U.S. EPA review of Clean Air Act rules' employment impact that is bitterly opposed by green advocates.

Deans, while agreeing on the need for "baseline agreement on the facts before we get into the political fight," urged lawmakers to work toward unity in favor of air toxics restrictions that are broadly backed in public polls but blasted by industry as bound to cause economic harm.

ELI's debate yesterday comes as President Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.), his likely challenger, enter the first stages of a general election fight expected to encompass the battle to balance economic recovery and environmental stewardship that already has defined the 112th Congress.

With gasoline prices hitting seasonal highs, energy is dominating the early advertising clashes between the presidential campaigns and their affiliated political action committees.

The latest volley on that front came yesterday from the oil industry-backed American Energy Alliance (AEA), which extended the biggest ad campaign in its history to satellite radio stations in nine swing states. AEA's commercials link Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL oil pipeline and his administration's half-million-dollar loan guarantee to a defunct solar firm to rising gas prices (E&E Daily, March 29).

However, neither the XL project nor the government aid to bankrupt Solyndra has demonstrably driven the current uptick in pump prices. The pipeline's supporters acknowledge that it likely would raise oil costs in the Midwest if constructed, though they dispute that gas prices in that region would not rise as a result.

That chasm between political assertion and factual impact -- present in arguments put forth by both ends of the environmental politics spectrum -- was singled out for scrutiny by E. Donald Elliott, an assistant EPA administrator during the George H.W. Bush administration.

"You've got to have a better process to get the facts clear, because right now people, partisans on all sides, are good at essentially misstating the facts," said Elliott, now a professor at Yale Law School. "If you misstate the question, there's essentially no hope of getting the policies correct."

LOAD-DATE: May 16, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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The Frontrunner

April 17, 2012 Tuesday

Polls Range From 9-Point Obama Lead To 3-Point Romney Edge

SECTION: NATIONAL CAMPAIGN NEWS

LENGTH: 486 words

A new series of polls out in the last 24 hours paint conflicting pictures of the state of the presidential contest. While two tracking polls show Mitt Romney with a slight lead, other surveys show President Obama well ahead.

Rasmussen Reports ' daily presidential tracking poll shows Obama's approval rating at 47%, with 51% disapproving. That's little changed from a 46%/52% split yesterday. In a 2012 trial heat, Romney leads Obama 47%-44%. The poll surveyed 1,500 likely voters from April 13-15.

The first installment of the Gallup daily presidential tracking poll shows Mitt Romney leading Barack Obama 47%-45%. While both candidates secure 90% of their respective bases, Romney leads 45%-39% among independents. The poll surveyed 2,225 registered voters from April 11-15.

However, a CNN /Opinion Research Corporation poll of 910 registered voters taken April 13-15 shows President Obama leading Mitt Romney 52%-43%. That's down from a 54%-43% Obama lead in a similar survey a month ago. The poll also shows respondents believe that Obama can better "get the economy moving" than Romney by a 44%-42% margin, while 49% said the President agrees with them "on the issues that matter most," with 37% choosing Romney.

Nearly splitting the difference is a Reuters /Ipsos poll which shows Obama leading Romney 47%-43%. That's down from a 52%-41% Obama lead in a similar survey a month ago. The poll surveyed 891 registered voters from April 12-15.

Romney Has Lowest Favorable Rating Of Any Candidate In Decades.

Jon Cohen and Peyton Craighill, in an online piece for the Washington Post (4/16, 553K) noted that Romney's "favorable numbers among Republicans have shot to a record high, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted after Rick Santorum dropped out," but Romney "continues to trail President Obama badly when it comes to a straightforward assessment of popularity. ... Fully 69 percent of Republicans -- including 80 percent of conservative Republicans -- now hold favorable views of the former Massachusetts governor, both career highs." Cohen and Craighill add, "The number of Americans with unfavorable views of him continues to hover near an all-time-high set in late March, with favorable impressions mired around one in three, making him less popular than any recent major party nominee in available Post-ABC polling dating to 1984."

McGurn: Focusing On President's "Likability" Would Be A Mistake For GOP.

In his column for the Wall Street Journal (4/17, Subscription Publication, 2.08M), William McGurn notes that a recent Washington Post/ABC News poll finds that by more than 2-to-1, American find President Obama more friendly and likable than Mitt Romney. However, McGurn says focusing on likability is a mistake and suggests that Romney, who already has the votes of those who dislike the President, should focus on winning the people who like him, but question his leadership as President.

LOAD-DATE: April 17, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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The Frontrunner

April 17, 2012 Tuesday

Targeting Romney, Pro-Obama Super PAC Ad To Air In Four Battleground States

SECTION: NATIONAL CAMPAIGN NEWS

LENGTH: 89 words

Politico (4/16, Tau, 25K) reported on its website, "The pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action is going up with an anti-Mitt Romney spot in four states, the group announced Monday. The ad targets Romney's background in private equity (specifically the layoffs and restructuring that his company Bain Capital undertook under his leadership), his low tax rate, and his proposal to cut taxes for the wealthy, concluding, 'Mitt Romney: if he wins, we lose.' The ad will air in Florida, Iowa, Ohio and Virginia, according to the group."

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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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The Main Wire

April 17, 2012 Tuesday 4:43 PM GMT

US CreditMkts:Tsys Ebb: Two-Way Flows; Mideast Front End Bid

LENGTH: 736 words

DATELINE: NEW YORK April 17

By Sheila Mullan

Prices of U.S. Treasuries ended Tuesday lower amid some reversed safe-haven bid flows, so some pressure from higher U.S. stock indexes after a solid Spanish bill auction.

Spain's Tesoro Publico sold a larger-than-intended E3.137 billion with strong demand from both 12-month and 18-month T-bills, despite yields rising 121 basis points and 140 basis points vs the prior month's sales, respectively. Next will be 3-year and 10-year Spanish debt auctions Thursday, a truer litmus test of the risk demand, said traders.

"The real test will be Thursday, when they have to absorb the 10-year notes," said Sean Murphy, senior trader at Societe Generale. "I personally feel they will go okay. But the market is weary of Spanish risk, so it will be looking for signs of customer withdrawal from that area."

Treasuries also had pressure from German Bunds hurt by the stronger ZEW and from the improved peripheral European government bond debt.

Treasuries saw two-way flows, mostly in U.S. intermediates, with real money and fast money sales in Treasury futures and cash 5-year notes. The morning also saw some Treasury curve flatteners done heading into the $1.83b Fed pass in 2036-2042 Treasuries.

Meanwhile some noted very heavy buying in the very front end of the curve by unspecified accounts. Also some good Mideast buying arose in the front end after such entity had sold long end Treasuries to cut down risk.

Elsewhere, other talk arose of residual global asset allocation trades, after last Thursday's episode in UK trading that filtered into New York: selling of bonds (Bunds, Treasury 10-year futures) to buy stocks (S&P E-Minis, Germany's DAX and Eurostoxx). That $10-billion-ish trade that day was a new position, said observers.

Treasuries also had cross-market pressure, as Canadian bond yields rose amid the Bank of Canada eyeing an eventual policy accommodation removal. That pressured Treasury intermediates mildly, said traders.

Early on, Treasuries opened New York weaker but had been aided earlier off the lows after a weaker than expected unchanged March industrial production, but firmer 78.6% capacity utilization. There also came in weaker than expected -5.8% March housing starts.

U.S. interest rate swaps ended mostly tighter, with better receiver and deal-tied flows.

Sources said the stock market support today could reflect asset allocations away from fixed income toward dividend stocks. They related this to political polls showing GOP front-runner Mitt Romney gaining vs. President Barack Obama, and expect a GOP win to extend dividend tax preference. For example the Gallup web page currently shows Obama approval at 45%, -2, and Romney Approval at 47%, +2. The Rasmussen poll gives Obama a -14 rating currently and says in an election Obama gets 45% of the vote vs. Romney 46%.

The New York Fed said it will buy $44 billion in Treasuries through April, and sell $43 billion in short-end Treasuries, unchanged from March, as part of Operation Twist.

Fed Buy Operation Operation Maturity/Call Purchase

Date Type Date Range Size

-- HISTORY

Tue 4/17 Fed Buys $1.83B Tsys of $4.84B Offer: Feb 15 2036-Feb 15 '42

Mon 4/16 Fed Sells $8.6B Tsys of $80.2B Submit:Feb 15 2013-Jun 30 '13

Fri 4/13 Fed Buys $1.83B Tsys of $4.9B Offer: Feb 15 2036-Feb 15 '42

Thu 4/12 Fed Buys $4.95B Tsys of $13.8B Offer: May 15 2020-Feb 15 '22

Wed 4/11 Fed Sells $8.62B Tsys of $93B Submit:Jul 15 2012-Jan 31 '13

Tue 4/10 Fed Buys $1.84B Tsys of $5.45B Offer: Feb 15 2036-Feb 15 '42

Tue 4/10 Fed Buys $4.76B Tsys of $14.4B Offer: Apr 30 3018-Feb 15 '20

Mon 4/09 Fed Sells $1.26B TIPS of $5.92B Submit:Jul 15 2012-Jan 15 '15

On a 3:00 p.m. ET Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. Monday basis:

- The 2-year note was 0.278% (99-30) from 0.274% (99-30+)

- The 3-year note was 0.412% (99-28+) from 0.401% (99-29+)

- The 5-year note was 0.863% (100-212) from 0.839% (100-25)

- The 7-year note was 1.393% (100-22) from 1.363% (100-29)

- The 10-year note was 2.009% (99-29) from 1.974% (100-7)

- The 30-year bond was 3.154% (99-14) from 3.115% (100-6)

- The Cash Treasury yield curves:

- The 2/5-year curve steepened to +58.5 bps from +56.5 bps

- The 2/10-year curve steepened to +173.1 bps from +170 bps

- The 2/30-year curve steepened to +286.7 bps from +284.1 bps

--email:

smullan@marketnews.com

, Tel: 212-669-6432

** MNI New York Newsroom: 212-669-6430 **

LOAD-DATE: April 18, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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Tampa Bay Times

April 17, 2012 Tuesday
0 South Pinellas Edition

MACK'S SENATE LUSTER FADING

BYLINE: ADAM C. SMITH, MARC CAPUTO, TIMES/HERALD STAFF WRITERS

SECTION: NATIONAL; Pg. 1A

LENGTH: 1366 words

HIGHLIGHT: Jeff Atwater's name surfaces as a possible rival for Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson's job.

With an iconic name and access to Washington cash, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack looked like the great Republican hope when he entered Florida's U.S. Senate race and posed a serious threat to Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson.

Six months later, however, Mack has proved to be neither a potent statewide candidate nor a shoo-in to win the Republican nomination against his little-known rivals.

From Washington to Tallahassee to local GOP clubs, Republican professionals and activists are buzzing about Mack's underwhelming campaign and debut as a statewide candidate. Some want another candidate and on Monday a big name - Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater - announced he is considering jumping into the race.

"It's late. But I share the same deep-seated concern they hold," Atwater told the Shark Tank blog, referring to people encouraging him to run. "This is an extraordinary country. It's an exceptional place on the planet and if we don't turn it around soon, frankly it will be too late for another generation."

He added: "I think I have a responsibility to sit back (and listen) to these people that I respect greatly and are serious-minded conservatives of this great state to take a hard look at it."

In a Monday Tampa Bay Times survey of more than 80 seasoned Florida political professionals and activists - fundraisers, campaign consultants and grass roots organizers - half said it was not too late for a new candidate to get in and mount a credible campaign. That's an extraordinary number given the lofty, early expectations about Mack, whose father, Connie Mack III, was a popular U.S. senator and whose great-grandfather was a baseball icon. Mack is married to California congresswoman Mary Bono Mack.

But the Fort Myers Republican has managed to raise barely more money than former interim Sen. George LeMieux, who's tainted by his longtime association with former Republican-turned-independent Gov. Charlie Crist. They have slightly more than $1 million in the bank each. Nelson sits on $9.5 million without an expensive primary looming.

Only twice has Mack appeared for candidate forums with the two other major Republican candidates, and each time conservative activists who questioned and listened to all three voted Mack the weakest of the bunch.

"When he got into the race it's almost like Connie Mack sucked the air out of the race, but he wasn't able to sustain that," said Karin Hoffman, CEO of the Broward County-based DC Works for Us, which organized a tea party conference in Orlando attended by all the Senate candidates recently.

"As more time has gone on," she said, "the reaction to him from people paying attention has become, 'Well, not so much.'"

After the recent tea party forum, Hoffman said she started leaning toward LeMieux.

Mack's spokesman, David James, disputes what Republicans like Hoffman and many others are saying. He said Mack's support is strong and getting stronger and implied the Times/Herald is manufacturing doubts about the Mack campaign to damage him.

"Connie Mack has sent Bill Nelson and his liberal allies, including those in the press, into panic mode and it won't work. Republicans know that conservative Connie Mack will defeat liberal Bill Nelson and Mitt Romney will defeat Nelson's chief ally Barack Obama, regardless of what the left wing media wants," said Mack spokesman David James, when asked about the prospect of Atwater running.

"We feel very good with where we're at," James said. He said the campaign's fundraising totals would likely have been even higher had it not been for the January presidential primary in Florida that stretched donors thin.

Polls indicate the Fort Myers congressman has little chance of losing the Republican race right now without Atwater or another strong candidate in the race.

And with such a big name and big lead in the polls, Mack has ample time to kick his fundraising into high gear, improve his grass roots stumping and become the threat to Nelson that Republicans want. But the mere act of Atwater publicly mulling the Senate race damages Mack's contention that he's the inevitable nominee.

Atwater, who did not return messages Monday, could be a force. In 2010, the low-key former banker and Florida Senate president earned nearly 3 million votes - more than any of the other five Republicans who won state office. Atwater also hails from a hotbed of Republican finance, Palm Beach County, where some party chiefs have tried to get other candidates to run.

But if Atwater enters the race, it'll be no gimme. Candidates for federal office are essentially banned from taking corporate money, unlike state-office candidates, and have to raise the bulk of their hard-to-come-by money from individuals.

Also, Atwater committed what could be a cardinal sin to many Republicans when he was Florida Senate president in 2009: He played a key role in the Legislature's decision to take federal stimulus money and to raise taxes and fees by about $2.2 billion.

How did Mack leave an opening for someone else to get in? Part of it was underwhelming money-raising, part of it was performance on the campaign trail.

People who attended the Orlando tea party conference, just like those who attended a similar one in February by the Florida Federation of Republican Women, noted Mack was the only candidate uninterested in personally chatting and connecting with the hard core activists in attendance.

In contrast, LeMieux and political newcomer Mike McCalister don't seem to leave a hand unshaken at these events. LeMieux won his third straw poll last week at the East Manatee Republican Club, which Mack skipped.

Mack announced his first TV ad last week, which ripped Nelson for approving the stimulus because it authorized $144,541 on research that tested effects of cocaine on monkeys. Filled with images and sounds of hooting monkeys, the ad blasts Nelson as a liberal.

Experienced campaign hands rolled their eyes. Normally, a candidate's first spot introduces him to the public and frames serious issues he wants to talk about.

"Let's just say it's not the ad I would have run at this time," said Keith Appell, with CRC media, who worked on Gov. Rick Scott's campaign and helped coordinate media strategy for the infamous Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004.

"There's a time and place for humor," Appell said. "But I'm not sure this is it."

Nelson has been steadily raising money - in the last three months he raised more money than Mack and LeMieux combined. Nelson also is rising in the polls along with President Barack Obama. The last statewide poll from Quinnipiac University showed Nelson up by 8 percentage points over Mack. But pollsters and pundits widely view the two-term incumbent as beatable in such a volatile election year.

Quinnipiac didn't poll the Republican primary, in part because LeMieux and McCalister are so far behind. LeMieux had an anemic fundraising quarter. Where Mack pulled in about $1 million, LeMieux raised only $305,000.

LeMieux has just $1.2 million in the bank. Mack: $1.3 million. Unlike LeMieux, Mack began fundraising late because he only entered the race in November.

But Mack's sum is paltry compared to the estimated $8 million that former Senate President Mike Haridopolos, who withdrew from the race and endorsed Mack, planned to have on hand by now. Haridopolos raised more than LeMieux and Mack - a sign that the money's out there; but it's not flowing to Florida.

LeMieux has stumped the state aggressively, hammering Mack for the string of fistfights as a youth and for his numerous votes in Congress for budget-stuffing earmarks. "The Charlie Sheen of Florida Politics," LeMieux dubbed Mack.

Pat Shortridge, a top adviser in Marco Rubio's Senate race, said he's hearing concern from national Republicans about the campaign. He said it's "not at all surprising" people are looking for another candidate, but "it's far-fetched at this late date" in the campaign.

"For conservatives, there's a lot of concern that we don't have a candidate in Florida," Shortridge said. "There are very serious concerns about the kind of candidate George LeMieux is, given his years as Charlie Crist's right-hand man and as attack dog against Marco Rubio, and lots of questions about Connie Mack."

LOAD-DATE: April 17, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: PHOTO: Rep. Connie Mack has left some GOP activists unimpressed. PHOTO: State CFO Jeff Atwater says he is considering a run at the Florida GOP Senate nomination. PHOTO: George LeMieux won a third straw poll, but lags in funds. PHOTO: Mike McCalister is a newcomer in Florida politics. PHOTO: U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has $9.5 million on hand. He had been considered vulnerable by the GOP.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The White House Bulletin

April 17, 2012 Tuesday

Presidential Polls Range From Nine Point Obama Lead To Two Point Romney Edge

SECTION: IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND AROUND TOWN

LENGTH: 240 words

Rasmussen Reports' daily presidential tracking poll shows Obama's approval rating at 48%, with 50% disapproving. That's little changed from a 47%/51% split yesterday. In a 2012 trial heat, Romney leads Obama 46%-45%. The poll surveyed 1,500 likely voters from April 14-16.

LOAD-DATE: April 17, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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The Associated Press

April 18, 2012 Wednesday 07:59 PM GMT

House Democrats reserve $32 million in ad time

BYLINE: By HENRY C. JACKSON, Associated Press

SECTION: POLITICAL NEWS

LENGTH: 635 words

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

House Democrats have reserved more than $32 million in ad time in districts across the country, giving an early sketch of the race for control of the House.

Broadly, the ad reservations show that House Democrats will try to regain control of the chamber in many of the same states President Barack Obama must win to get re-elected in November.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's reservation includes congressional districts in 14 states, heavily concentrated on presidential swing states. It includes more than $8 million in Florida, $3 million in Ohio and about $2 million in Colorado.

In total, 26 targeted seats are held by Republicans, seven by vulnerable Democrats and three seats are open. Democrats need 25 seats to take back the House.

Jennifer Crider, a spokeswoman for the House Democratic campaign committee, characterized the buy as "early" and "aggressive" and said it "puts House Republicans on notice. Democrats are on offense and positioned to win."

This is the earliest that the DCCC has reserved ad time in an election cycle.

Republicans called the buy a sign of desperation.

"The Democrats just pushed a $32 million panic button," said Andrea Bozek, spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. "Already having to invest resources into defending members who supported President Obama's job-destroying policies isn't a good sign for (House Democratic leader) Nancy Pelosi's desire to get back into the speaker's chair."

The House Democratic ads would begin airing after Labor Day, when the fall campaign traditionally begins in earnest. The total amount spent and the districts being targeted could change, but the reservation is an early sign of the Democrats' election game plan.

Democrats said the reservation is for an initial wave of advertising and that spending would likely increase.

Notably, the ad buy announced Wednesday did not include time in California, where Democrats have high hopes of picking up seats in November. It also includes limited spending in Illinois, another state where Democrats see pick-up opportunities. Neither state is considered in play in the presidential race.

Democrats said one reason for the early ad reservation is the expectation that rates in hotly contested presidential states will soar in the fall as Obama, GOP nominee-in-waiting Mitt Romney and third-party groups flood the airwaves.

The buy offers the clearest indication yet of what Democrats see as their most plausible path to power.

The party believes it has good opportunities in Florida, where millions of dollars in ad time has been reserved in Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Tallahassee and Miami markets; Ohio; Pennsylvania, where $3.5 million alone has been set aside for a cluster of Philadelphia area house seats; and Nevada, where $1.8 million in ad time is being reserved for two House seats.

Many of the targeted members are freshmen closely aligned with the tea party movement, including Reps. Allen West, R-Fla., Bobby Schilling, R-Ill., and Scott Tipton, R-Colo. Among the veteran lawmakers is Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, a staunch conservative who saw more Democrats and independents added to his district during redistricting. King faces a strong challenge from Christy Vilsack, the wife of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and a former first lady of Iowa.

The reserved air time also shows where Democrats think they'll play defense. Air time has been reserved in the districts of two veteran Iowa congressmen, Leonard Boswell and Dave Loebsack; Denver-area Rep. Ed Perlmutter, North Carolina Reps. Mike McIntyre and Larry Kissell and Pennsylvania Reps. Jason Altmire and Mark Critz.

The GOP has yet to announce any districts where it plans to spend money in the fall. The NRCC has about $27.1 million in the bank, compared to $22.8 million for the DCCC.

LOAD-DATE: April 19, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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The Associated Press

April 18, 2012 Wednesday 10:28 PM GMT

Ad Watch: Spot claims Romney win is voters' loss

BYLINE: By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press

SECTION: POLITICAL NEWS

LENGTH: 633 words

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

TITLE: "World View."

LENGTH: 30 seconds.

AIRING: On broadcast stations in Florida, Iowa, Ohio and Virginia.

KEY IMAGES: There's just one image in the TV spot by Priorities USA Action, an independent group supporting President Barack Obama's re-election bid: Mitt Romney and his former business partners joshing for the camera with $20 bills in their hands, busting out of their pockets and clenched between their teeth. That black-and-white photograph from 1985 was taken when Romney was at Bain Capital, an investment firm that made Romney very wealthy.

"He made a fortune from the businesses he helped destroy," one caption reads. "Romney pays a federal tax rate far lower than that faced by many middle class wage earners," announces another headline.

"Wealthy would cash in under Romney's tax plan," another caption declares, while an announcer says Romney's plan would be "cutting Medicare and education."

The camera zooms in and out on a grinning Romney and his former business partners who are mugging for the camera.

"If he wins, we lose," says the final text.

ANALYSIS: The independent, though Obama-supporting, Priorities USA Action is telegraphing plans to cast Romney as a privileged millionaire who doesn't understand the challenges facing families. The dark ad, with ominous warnings to middle-class voters that a Romney administration would strip seniors of their checks and students of their educations, is a clear sign of what Democrats view as the likely GOP nominee's greatest weakness.

The ad doesn't give a complete picture, however.

Yes, Bain Capital reaped tremendous profits during Romney's time there and some businesses were shuttered. Romney's role was as a numbers guy at the top of the company who OK'd analysts' advice to invest in struggling companies ranging from picture frame makers to brake pad manufacturers. Along the way, Bain turned around those companies' financial outlooks and made them attractive for other investors.

At times, factories were closed to prepare their parent companies for resale and companies were left with high levels of debt that later proved debilitating and led to other shutdowns.

The charge that Romney was a corporate raider has vexed his team since he first ran for the Senate in 1994 against incumbent Edward M. Kennedy. It still fuels the image of Romney as a wealthy executive out of touch with average Americans.

The suggestion that Romney was personally attempting to destroy businesses for his own profit is a stretch, given his political ambition and worries that deals would haunt him in future runs.

Romney, who filed for an extension on his 2011 taxes, as he has in past years, was expected to pay a rate that is lower than most wage earners because his income comes mostly from investments that are treated more favorably under tax laws than earned income.

Democrats have unsuccessfully sought to change the tax code to make wealthier individuals pay higher rates on such investments. President Barack Obama has campaigned hard for what he calls "the Buffett Rule," named after investor Warren Buffett, who objects to paying a lower tax rate on his investment income than his secretary pays on her salary. The Senate rejected Obama's plan this week.

The ad also dings Romney's tax plan. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center has estimated that the richest Americans would see their tax bills drop if Romney were to eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax and were successful in extending Bush-era tax cuts. The top 1 percent of wage earners would see an average tax cut of $150,000 roughly equal to a 7.8 percent cut in their rates, the think tank found.

The claims on Medicare and education are both based on Romney's endorsement of a House GOP budget plan. It's unlikely to be approved because of opposition in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

LOAD-DATE: April 19, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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CNN Wire

April 18, 2012 Wednesday 11:09 PM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 4299 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Maggie Leung -- 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

ENT-Dick-Clark-Obit (will update)

Broadcast icon Dick Clark, the creator and longtime host of "American Bandstand," has died, publicist Paul Shefrin said. He was 82.

ENT-Dick-Clark-Reax (will update)

A roundup of reactions to the death of television producer and longtime "American Bandstand" host Dick Clark, who died Wednesday:

US-Secret-Service-Colombia (will update)

Three U.S. Secret Service members have left or are being pushed out of the agency following a prostitution scandal that erupted in Colombia ahead of a visit by President Barack Obama, the agency said in a statement Wednesday.

POL-Campaign-Wrap (will update)

Mitt Romney got another expected but key endorsement Wednesday before heading to North Carolina to criticize President Barack Obama in the city where Democrats will nominate Obama for a second term later this year.

Florida-Shooting-Judge

The judge who will take over the case of a Florida man accused of shooting an unarmed teenager is highly rated by defense lawyers but "not known as being a soft touch," one Florida attorney said Wednesday.

Texas-Pediatrician-Shooting (will update)

A nurse accused of killing a Texas mother in a parking lot and stealing her 3-day-old son had suffered a miscarriage and believed she needed to show her fiancé that she had a child, authorities said Wednesday.

North-Carolina-Soldier (will update)

The search for a missing Fort Bragg, North Carolina, soldier focused Wednesday afternoon on a pond, officials said.

Syria-Unrest (will update)

Security forces fired at demonstrators in a Syrian city Wednesday while United Nations observers were visiting, activists said.

Pakistan-Bin-Laden-Family (monitoring)

Osama bin Laden's three widows and two daughters could be deported from Pakistan on Wednesday after their period of house detention expired overnight. Nearly 60 Bahraini activists turned out Wednesday in downtown Manama calling for the release of hunger striker Abdulhadi al-Khawaja.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

TOP STORY

Afghanistan-Troops-Photos

Photos of U.S. soldiers posing with bodies of suspected Afghan insurgents, published Wednesday by the Los Angeles Times, depict behavior that "absolutely violates" U.S. regulations and values, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday.

US-Secret-Service-Colombia

ENT-Dick-Clark-Obit

Broadcast icon Dick Clark, the creator and longtime host of "American Bandstand," has died, publicist Paul Shefrin said. He was 82.

CNN SHOWCASE

US-Secret-Service-Women -- By Laura Smith-Spark

The scandal over allegations that Secret Service agents brought prostitutes to their hotel rooms in Colombia ahead of a visit by U.S. President Barack Obama keeps growing. And with it come awkward questions about whether a strong macho element in the culture of the U.S. Secret Service could pose a threat to security, and how women agents fit into the picture. Journalist and commentator Kiri Blakeley asked in a blog post Tuesday why there are not more women Secret Service agents to counter this kind of bad behavior.

INTERNATIONAL

NATO-Afghanistan-Future

Around here it's known among NATO officials as 'the jumbo': an annual meeting of foreign and defense ministers of NATO countries. This year the stakes are unusually high. It's the last big meeting for the alliance before the NATO summit in Chicago next month, where the leaders of countries with troops in Afghanistan will make key decisions about the future of the international coalition's mission there.

Afghanistan-NATO

NATO insisted Wednesday that coalition forces are not racing to the exits in Afghanistan, even as allies met to firm up plans that would shift combat responsibility to Afghan forces.

afghanistan-voices

Experts: Photos of U.S. soldiers handling corpses very bad for war

Afghanistan-Girls-Poisoned

Afghan police are questioning two school caretakers after more than 170 women and girls were hospitalized with suspected poisoning, a district official said Wednesday.

Bahrain-Activists-Protest

Sweden-Art-Controversy

Sweden's culture minister was feeling the heat Wednesday after a weekend art exhibit in which she cut up a cake baked into the shape of a cartoonishly stereotyped African woman.

Syria-Unrest

Security forces fired at demonstrators in a Syrian city Wednesday while United Nations observers were visiting, activists said.

US-Poll-Iran-North-Korea

Americans see Iran as a bigger threat to the United States than North Korea, according to a new poll. The CNN/ORC International Poll released Wednesday showed 81% view Iran as a very serious or moderate threat to the U.S. Three quarters of Americans said North Korea represents a similar threat.

MED-North-Korea-science-diplomacy

While tensions remain high between the United States and North Korea, the relationship is more cordial between their scientists. Scientists from both nations are collaborating via nongovernmental organizations and universities on projects ranging from tuberculosis research and deforestation issues to digital information technology.

Turkey-Syria-Weapons

Turkish authorities are preparing to board and search a German-owned cargo ship reported to be carrying Iranian weapons bound for Syria.

Syria-UN-Wives

The wives of the British and German ambassadors to the United Nations have taken on Syria's first lady in an online video, calling on Asma al-Assad to "stop your husband" and "stop being a bystander."

Turkey-Freak-Storm

Howling winds ripped through Turkey's largest city Wednesday afternoon, tearing flags from their poles, destroying the set of a blockbuster Hollywood film, and wounding at least 31 people, Turkish authorities said.

Norway-Breivik-Trial

Anders Behring Breivik, who admits killing 77 people in Norway last summer, has been asked to stop raising his fist in salute each morning at his trial, his lawyer said Wednesday.

France-Pippa-Middleton-Gun

Afriend of Pippa Middleton's, the sister-in-law of Britain's Prince William, apologized Wednesday for an incident in which a friend of his brandished a toy gun at press photographers in Paris.

South-Africa-Rape-Video

South Africans woke up on Wednesday morning to the claim that a group of Soweto youths had filmed themselves raping a 17-year-old girl believed to be mentally ill.

Spain-King-Apology

Spain's King Juan Carlos made a rare public apology Wednesday for his recent hunting trip to Africa that has caused an outcry in Spain and abroad for its expense during the nation's economic crisis and for hunting elephants.

Israel-activist-video

The Israeli military said Wednesday that it had dismissed an officer who was caught on video striking a pro-Palestinian activist in the face.

UK-Phone-Hacking

London police have asked prosecutors to file charges against at least eight people in connection with phone hacking by journalists, the Crown Prosecution Service said Wednesday.

MONEY-chad-libya-economy-oil

After spending years of working in neighboring Libya, the last place Daoud Mohammed wants to be right now is back to his home in Chad, the landlocked country in central Africa.

Myanmar-Suu-Kyi-Parliament

The party of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has requested a change in the wording of the oath that lawmakers have to take, presenting a potential hurdle to her taking up the parliamentary seat she won this month.

China-bo-xilai-scandal-xinhua

China has promised a thorough investigation into a scandal that has linked a disgraced former Communist Party chief's wife to the mysterious death of a British businessman.

Egypt-Presidential-Bid-Appeal

Ten candidates, including the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and a former spy chief, have lost their appeal against disqualification from upcoming presidential elections in Egypt, according to official news agency egynews.

Pakistan-Bin-Laden-Family

Osama bin Laden's three widows and two daughters could be deported from Pakistan on Wednesday after their period of house detention expired overnight.

Nearly 60 Bahraini activists turned out Wednesday in downtown Manama calling for the release of hunger striker Abdulhadi al-Khawaja.

SPORT-Olympics-100-Days-London-2012

Wednesday marks 100 days to go until the opening ceremony of the London Olympics. Is the city ready?

SPORT-football-champions-league-barcelona-chelsea

Chelsea stunned European champions Barcelona with a 1-0 victory in the semifinal first leg of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

SPORT-tennis-monte-carlo-nadal-djokovic

King of Clay Rafael Nadal began his defense of his Monte Carlo Masters title Wednesday with a routine 6-4, 6-3 victory against the Finnish player Jarkko Nieminen.

SPORT-golf-guan-tianlang-china

Most 13-year-old boys would be happy to win their local golf club's junior tournament. But Guan Tian-Lang isn't like other boys. The Chinese prodigy is set to make history this week when he smashes the record for the youngest player in a European Tour event.

SPORT-motorsport-bahrain-f1race

Bahrain Grand Prix bosses have made a "calculated decision" to go ahead with the controversial race on Sunday, claiming civil rights protests have nothing to do with the event.

U.S.A.

Texas-Pediatrician-Shooting

North-Carolina-Soldier

The search for a missing Fort Bragg, North Carolina, soldier focused Wednesday afternoon on a pond, officials said.

California-girl-fight-death

Authorities declined to file criminal charges Wednesday against a fifth-grade student for the death of 10-year-old Joanna Ramos, who suffered fatal blunt force head trauma after a fistfight in February.

Florida-Teen-Shooting

A Florida judge Wednesday approved a motion to disqualify herself from the criminal case involving a neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, according to the court.

Florida-Teen-Shooting-Poll

An overwhelming majority of Americans believe the man who killed unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin should have been arrested, according to a CNN/ORC poll released Wednesday.

iowa-discrimination-lawsuit-dismissed

The lawyer representing up to 6,000 African-American plaintiffs in an employment discrimination lawsuit against the state of Iowa says he will appeal a judge's dismissal of the case.

Illinois-Lottery-Winner

Merle and Pat Butler, lifetime residents of Red Bud, Illinois, hold the third winning ticket worth $218 million in last month's Mega Millions lottery, officials announced Wednesday.

Arkansas-Dorrell-Resignation

The woman at the center of a scandal that led to the firing of University of Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino resigned from her job at the school on Tuesday.

US-Keystone-Pipeline

The company building the controversial Keystone XL pipeline has submitted a proposal for a new route, a spokesman for the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, the state's environmental authority, said Wednesday.

US-BP-Spill-Settlement

BP announced Wednesday it has reached a class-action settlement with attorneys representing thousands of businesses and individuals who made claims following the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

US-New-York-Terror-Trial

Confessed subway bomb plotter Najibullah Zazi described in court on Wednesday how he and two co-conspirators searched for big impact targets in the United States, debating whether to strike at New York's Times Square, its subway system or an unspecified Walmart store.

US-SCOTUS-Wardrobe-Malfunction

An appeal over singer Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" and brief partial nudity on national television has reached the Supreme Court, the latest free speech episode over indecent, if fleeting, images and words on the public airwaves.

US-occupy-wall-street-returns

In the spirit of spring rebirth, the Occupy movement is ramping up activities as warm weather blankets the country. But while the season is typified by a reawakening of life outdoors, demonstrators are using sleep to get their points across. They call it "sleepful protest."

US-Midwest-Storms

The National Weather Service has confirmed 59 tornadoes from a weekend outbreak of storms that killed six people.

US-Energy-Subsidies

The United States needs to overhaul its support for clean energy research to keep recent gains alive as subsidies that have fueled a boom in the field expire, researchers urged Wednesday.

US-SCLC-Leadership

The board of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference is meeting to discuss whether to keep its current president.

TRAVEL-Oregon-Airport-Naked-Protest

A 50-year-old man who said he felt that airport screeners were "harassing" him stripped naked at Portland International Airport, police in Oregon said.

TRAVEL-JetBlue-Pilot

Clayton Osbon, the JetBlue pilot who was restrained by passengers after he left the cockpit and acted erratically during a flight last month, will use an insanity defense, according to court documents filed Wednesday by his attorney Dean Roper.

MED-Marshals-Ultrasound-Gel

The U.S. Marshals Service raided the offices of an ultrasound gel manufacturer on Wednesday, seizing the product that the Food and Drug Administration said contains dangerous amounts of bacteria that has sickened 16 patients.

SPORT-Pat-Summitt

Eight months after revealing her diagnosis with early-onset Alzheimer's, the head coach of the University of Tennessee's women's basketball team announced she was stepping down Wednesday.

SPORT-Old-Pitcher

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jamie Moyer made history Tuesday night in Denver becoming the oldest pitcher to win a Major League Baseball game at 49 years, 150 days.

SPORT-Baseball-Guillen-Back

A relieved Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters Tuesday night he was happy to get a break from controversial topics and just talk baseball.

MONEY-Swaps-Rules

Big business scored a major win Wednesday when two regulatory boards agreed to limit the impact of tough rules to regulate the complex trades that helped spur the 2008 financial crisis.

MONEY-Stocks

U.S. stocks closed down modestly Wednesday, as investors found new reasons to worry about Europe's economy. Less-than-stellar earnings from two big tech companies added to sluggish trading throughout the day.

MONEY-Chesapeake-Energy

Shares of Chesapeake Energy tumbled Wednesday after Reuters reported that the company's chief executive has been taking out personal loans to finance stakes in the company's wells, and using those same stakes as collateral for additional loans.

MONEY-Drilling-Regulations

The Obama administration tightened regulations on the oil and gas industry Wednesday, requiring drillers to capture emissions of certain air pollutants from new wells.

MONEY-Postal-Service-Closings

The potential of 250 U.S. postal offices and distribution centers closing next month is spreading jitters among the nation's small business hubs.

MONEY-Forecast-Congress

Economists have lots of ideas about what can be done to help jumpstart the still weak economy, but they don't expect Congress to enact any of them any time soon.

MONEY-Best-Buy-Sale

Bad news for Best Buy means deals for shoppers. But don't expect to walk away with the steal of the century on an iPad or brand new 60-inch HDTV.

MONEY-Moms-Work

After factoring in the rising cost of child care, the daily commute and other work-related expenses, a growing number of mothers are figuring out that having a job just doesn't pay.

POL-Congress-Secret-Service

Virginia GOP Rep. Randy Forbes on Wednesday became the first member of Congress to call for U.S. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan to step down due to a prostitution scandal involving eleven agents that has raised questions about security at the agency.

POL-GSA-Hearings

Describing the billions of dollars in contracts and services handled by the General Services Administration as a den of temptation, senators from both parties on Wednesday called for the agency at the center of a spending scandal to clean house as it roots out corruption.

POL-Arizona-Special-Election-Primary

Voters in Arizona's 8th Congressional District cast their ballots Tuesday in the primary ahead of the special election to replace former Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

ELECTION 2012

POL-Campaign-Wrap

POL-Obama-Ohio-Economy

President Barack Obama took one of his first swipes of the general election against Mitt Romney on Wednesday, in what appeared a veiled criticism of the likely GOP nominee's wealth and background. "I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth," he said. "Michelle wasn't. "But somebody gave us a chance - just like these folks up here are looking for a chance," he continued, speaking about education on the campus of an Ohio community college.

POL-Clinton-Obama-VP

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday once again squashed notions that she would accept a gig as President Barack Obama's running mate this fall.

POL-Romney-Obama-North-Carolina

Twenty weeks before and less than a mile away from the site of the Democratic National Convention, Mitt Romney said that this time around, President Obama would not be able to repeat any part of his 2008 convention speech.

POL-CNN-Poll-GOP-VP

Whom should Mitt Romney choose as his running mate? According to a new national poll, there's no consensus among Republicans. But a CNN/ORC International survey released Wednesday does indicate there's an ideological split that could put pressure on Romney, the all but certain GOP presidential nominee, as he tries to make his decision.

POL-Romney-Obama-Dog

Mitt Romney refused to play ball Wednesday over the newest turn in a frenzy dogging the political sphere.

POL-Romney-Obama-Trips

Mitt Romney drew new contrasts with President Barack Obama on Wednesday by targeting the president's fondness for golf and vacations with his family.

POL-Romney-General-Election

After devoting seven years and tens of millions of dollars trying to convince conservatives that he is one of them, Mitt Romney finally has a firm grip on the Republican presidential nomination. Now comes the hard part.

POL-Romney-GSA-Secret-Service

Mitt Romney on Wednesday weighed in on two scandals dogging the Obama administration, saying if he were president he would "clean house" and replace certain personnel with those who put "interests of the nation ahead of personal play time."

POL-Romney-Prebuts-Obama

Hearing the term "bracketing" tossed about these days? Sounds like something you do when you're picking a college basketball winner in March. But this has more to do with Mitt Romney's strategy for November.

POL-Poll-Of-Polls-2012

With six and a half months to go until November's presidential election, it's basically all tied up between President Barack Obama and all-but-certain Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, according to an average of the four national surveys conducted entirely after former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania suspended his campaign on April 10.

POL-Romney-Pennsylvania-2012

Speaking in Republican stronghold Lancaster County Tuesday, the GOP's likely presidential nominee Mitt Romney crystallized what's at stake if his party loses the critical battleground state in November.

POL-Obama-Spanish-Ads

President Barack Obama's re-election campaign is going up with what they say are the first in a series of Spanish language television and radio commercials.

POL-Obama-Fundraising-Michigan

President Barack Obama returns to the fundraising circuit Wednesday after a weeklong hiatus to raise campaign cash in Michigan -- the birth place of his all but certain GOP rival, Mitt Romney.

POL-Romney-Summer-Olympics

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney on Wednesday said he plans to attend the Summer Olympics in London.

POL-Daniels-Romney-Support

Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana became the latest establishment Republican to back all-but-declared GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

POL-Romney-Cookie-Comments

A Pennsylvania bakery is making light of comments made by Mitt Romney on Tuesday, when he compared a batch of cookies from the mom-and-pop store to snacks found at 7-eleven. After his remarks rippled across the Bethel Park community outside of Pittsburgh, the 57-year-old bakery on Wednesday began offering a 'CookieGate' special: Buy a dozen, get a half-dozen free.

POL-Paul-Rhode-Island-Ad

While Mitt Romney has essentially locked up the Republican presidential nomination, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas has his eyes set on Rhode Island's upcoming primary with the release of a TV ad in the Ocean State.

COMMENTARY-cronin-asia-ten-questions

10 big questions for Obama, Romney on Asia.

COMMENTARY-Bayles-Romney-Center

Will Romney lurch to the center?

COMMENTARY-borger-romney-veep

Romney won't make McCain's mistake: Romney will apply one key lesson of John McCain's Sarah Palin pick.

FEATURES

ENT-Dick-Clark-Reax

A roundup of reactions to the death of television producer and longtime "American Bandstand" host Dick Clark, who died Wednesday:

ENT-stars-mourn-loss-of-icon-dick-clark

An entertainment mainstay, Dick Clark touched the lives of countless celebrities before passing away at the age of 82 on April 18. That much was evident as condolences poured in from all corners of the industry on Wednesday:

ENT-Acura-Ad-Controversy

Acura apologized Wednesday for a casting document that called for an African-American actor who was "not too dark" in the car company's Super Bowl ad.

ENT-Paquin-Moyer-Baby

If you're Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer, first comes the HBO show, then love, and then the baby. Paquin's rep tells CNN that the "True Blood" actress and her husband/co-star Moyer are expecting their first child together.

ENT-Levon-Helm-Cancer

Within hours of the announcement that Levon Helm was in the final stages of cancer, fans flooded his Facebook page with messages of support and fond recollections of the drummer and backbone of The Band.

TECH-zuckerberg-instagram-deal

Facebook-Instagram deal highlights Zuckerberg's hacker spirit

MONEY-hotel-internet-wi-fi-cost

For many hotel guests, paying for Wi-Fi is an outdated charge that you only get wind of when you're up in your room. Now that mobile phones have rendered hotel room phones largely obsolete, Wi-Fi is the new bugbear for today's traveler.

FEA-The-Butcher-Is-Back

Decades ago, homemakers relied on a man in a tidy apron and a necktie to provide the perfect cut of meat for Sunday dinner and a stop at the local butcher shop was part of the regular shopping routine. Over time, grocery stores started offering a similarly packaged cuts and it was the friendly neighborhood meat man who was being cut out. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, year after year, the number of grocery store butchers has grown steadily while the number of specialty store butchers has struggled to add numbers. Last year, there were more than 94,000 butchers working in grocery store chains.

FEA-Menu-Pronunciation-Anxiety

You say broo-sheh-tah. I say broo-ske-tah. Should we just call the whole meal off? Dining out gives people a night off from cooking and clean-up duty, but it can also serve up a buffet of pronunciation pitfalls.

FEA-Animal-Crackers-Day

Lions and tigers and bears, oh, my! - April 18 is National Animal Crackers Day!

FEA-ghostbusters-comic

Hello again, fellow comic readers! There is no doubt who you're gonna call for this week's pick, IDW's new "Ghostbusters" comic!

FEA-animal-print-fashion

Animal print is as classic to fashion as the little black dress. But this spring, the orange-and-black look of leopard is heading to the back of the closet in exchange for cuddly kitten faces.

US-down-syndrome-athlete

After spending a Sunday afternoon with Eric Dompierre and his parents it's clear that they're extremely grateful that Eric has always been included. Eric Dompierre has Down syndrome, but he's been welcome to play sports with other kids in Ishpeming Michigan since he was in elementary school.

MED-feeding-tube-allergies

Feeding tubes are designed to nourish patients, not deprive them of calories and hasten weight loss. News reports of a feeding tube diet popped up in the New York Times Sunday, followed by a slew of TV news stories on the new "trend." But for people who survive by feeding tubes -- patients with diseases such as cystic fibrosis, certain autoimmune diseases, problems with malabsorption -- the idea of using a medical tool for vanity is upsetting.

MED-opium-study-painkillers

About 20 million people are using the drug opium or one of its derivatives. A new study suggests new reasons for viewing this as problematic.

MED-mean-people-dna-test

Let's face it - everyone isn't nice. In fact, being nice is more difficult for some people than others. But is it possible that "niceness" is predetermined by our genes? A new study in the journal Psychological Science suggests this: If you think the world is full of threatening people, you're not going feel compelled to be generous by doing things like volunteering and donating to charity. But if you have certain gene variants, you're more likely to be nice anyway. Now hold on a minute - this doesn't give your mean neighbor an excuse to blame his DNA for not letting kids on the block play on his lawn. It's a little more complicated than that.

COMMENTARY-Mundy-women-economics

What helps women helps men.

COMMENTARY-walker-tulsa-shooting

Were Tulsa shootings hate crimes?

COMMENTARY-Bennett-Thiel-Education

Are colleges afraid of Peter Thiel?

COMMENTARY-France-America-Relationship

Why the French still crave America's love.

LOAD-DATE: April 19, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

111 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 18, 2012 Wednesday 2:25 PM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 1863 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editors Mark Bixler and Samira Jafari -- 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

POL-Campaign-Wrap (Will update)

Mitt Romney got another expected but key endorsement Wednesday before heading to North Carolina to speak in the city where Democrats will nominate President Barack Obama for a second term later this year.

POL-GSA-Hearing

A third day of congressional hearings on the General Services Administration spending scandal features Senate Democrats getting their chance to examine what Republicans call systemic rot in the vast government procurement agency.

Texas-Pediatrician-Shooting (Will update)

A 30-year-old registered nurse faces capital murder charges in the death of a Houston-area woman and the abduction of the victim's newborn son, according to an arrest report.

US-Secret-Service-Colombia (Will update)

A Colombian official said the Secret Service sex scandal has overshadowed the country's effort to showcase the city of Catagena during the recent Summit of the Americas.

Illinois-Lottery-Winner (Will update)

The Mega Millions mystery winner's identity will be revealed by Illinois lottery officials at the Red Bud Village Hall at 11 a.m. ET Wednesday.

Syria-Unrest (Will update)

Nearly a week after a U.N.-backed cease-fire started, violence erupted in Syria on Wednesday, with both the government and opposition forces reporting deadly attacks.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

TOP STORY

Afghanistan-Troops-Photos

The Los Angeles Times published photos Wednesday of U.S. soldiers posing with what the newspaper said were bodies of insurgents -- sparking outrage and condemnation from U.S. military officials.

INTERNATIONAL

Afghanistan-Troops-Photos

The Los Angeles Times published photos Wednesday of U.S. soldiers posing with what the newspaper said were bodies of insurgents -- sparking outrage and condemnation from U.S. military officials.

NATO-Afghanistan-Future

SPORT-Olympics-100-Days-London-2012

Wednesday marks 100 days to go until the opening ceremony of the London Olympics. Is the city ready?

Syria-Unrest

Nearly a week after a U.N.-backed cease-fire started, violence erupted in Syria on Wednesday, with both the government and opposition forces reporting deadly attacks.

Turkey-Syria-Weapons

Turkish authorities are preparing to board and search a German-owned cargo ship reported to be carrying Iranian weapons bound for Syria.

South-Africa-Rape-Video

South Africans woke up on Wednesday morning to the claim that a group of Soweto youths had filmed themselves raping a 17-year-old girl believed to be mentally ill.

Spain-King-Apology

Israel-activist-video

The Israeli military said Wednesday that it had dismissed an officer who was caught on video striking a pro-Palestinian activist in the face.

UK-Phone-Hacking

London police have asked prosecutors to file charges against at least eight people in connection with phone hacking by journalists, the Crown Prosecution Service said Wednesday.

MONEY-chad-libya-economy-oil

After spending years of working in neighboring Libya, the last place Daoud Mohammed wants to be right now is back to his home in Chad, the landlocked country in central Africa.

Afghanistan-Girls-Poisoned

Afghan police are questioning two school caretakers after more than 170 women and girls were hospitalized with suspected poisoning, a district official said Wednesday.

Myanmar-Suu-Kyi-Parliament

China-bo-xilai-scandal-xinhua

China has promised a thorough investigation into a scandal that has linked a disgraced former Communist Party chief's wife to the mysterious death of a British businessman.

SPORT-golf-guan-tianlang-china

Egypt-Presidential-Bid-Appeal

Pakistan-Bin-Laden-Family

Osama bin Laden's three widows and two daughters could be deported from Pakistan on Wednesday after their period of house detention expired overnight.

Syria-UN-Wives

U.S.A.

Texas-Pediatrician-Shooting

A 30-year-old registered nurse faces capital murder charges in the death of a Houston-area woman and the abduction of the victim's newborn son, according to an arrest report.

Florida-Teen-Shooting

Florida judge will decide by Friday whether to step aside from a criminal case involving a neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, according to the court.

Florida-Teen-Shooting-Poll

An overwhelming majority of Americans believe the man who killed unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin should have been arrested, according to a CNN/ORC poll released Wednesday.

North-Carolina-Soldier

Police and the military will search an area near a Fayetteville, North Carolina, bar where a missing Fort Bragg soldier was last seen and last used her cell phone, authorities said Wednesday.

US-Midwest-Storms

The National Weather Service has confirmed 59 tornadoes from a weekend outbreak of storms that killed six people.

POL-GSA-Hearings

Senate Democrats take their turn Wednesday on the General Services Administration's $800,000 boondoggle -- a simmering political scandal involving wasteful spending at a Las Vegas conference The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works holds a full committee hearing at 10 a.m. ET.

US-Secret-Service-Colombia

A Colombian official said the Secret Service sex scandal has overshadowed the country's effort to showcase the city of Catagena during the recent Summit of the Americas.

Arkansas-Dorrell-Resignation

The woman at the center of a scandal that led to the firing of University of Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino resigned from her job at the school on Tuesday.

TRAVEL-Oregon-Airport-Naked-Protest

A 50-year-old man who said he felt that airport screeners were "harassing" him stripped naked at Portland International Airport, police in Oregon said.

SPORT-Old-Pitcher

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jamie Moyer made history Tuesday night in Denver becoming the oldest pitcher to win a Major League Baseball game at 49 years, 150 days.

US-SCLC-Leadership

The board of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference is meeting to discuss whether to keep its current president.

Illinois-Lottery-Winner

The Mega Millions mystery winner's identity will be revealed by Illinois lottery officials at the Red Bud Village Hall at 11 a.m. ET Wednesday.

ENT-Levon-Helm-Cancer

SPORT-Baseball-Guillen-Back

A relieved Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters Tuesday night he was happy to get a break from controversial topics and just talk baseball.

Texas-Pediatrician-Shooting

A 3-day-old boy was found hours after he was seized from his mother who was fatally shot outside a pediatrician's office near Houston, authorities said.

US-Energy-Subsidies

The United States needs to overhaul its support for clean energy research to keep recent gains alive as subsidies that have fueled a boom in the field expire, researchers urged Wednesday.

MONEY-Forecast-Congress

Economists have lots of ideas about what can be done to help jumpstart the still weak economy, but they don't expect Congress to enact any of them any time soon.

MONEY-Moms-Work

After factoring in the rising cost of child care, the daily commute and other work-related expenses, a growing number of mothers are figuring out that having a job just doesn't pay.

ELECTION 2012

POL-Romney-General-Election

POL-Romney-GSA-Secret-Service

POL-Romney-Pennsylvania-2012

POL-Obama-Spanish-Ads

President Barack Obama's re-election campaign is going up with what they say are the first in a series of Spanish language television and radio commercials.

POL-Obama-Fundraising-Michigan

President Barack Obama returns to the fundraising circuit Wednesday after a weeklong hiatus to raise campaign cash in Michigan -- the birth place of his all but certain GOP rival, Mitt Romney.

POL-Romney-Summer-Olympics

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney on Wednesday said he plans to attend the Summer Olympics in London.

POL-Daniels-Romney-Support

Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana became the latest establishment Republican to back all-but-declared GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

COMMENTARY-cronin-asia-ten-questions

10 big questions for Obama, Romney on Asia.

COMMENTARY-Bayles-Romney-Center

Will Romney lurch to the center?

FEATURES

FEA-animal-print-fashion

Animal print is as classic to fashion as the little black dress. But this spring, the orange-and-black look of leopard is heading to the back of the closet in exchange for cuddly kitten faces.

MONEY-hotel-internet-wi-fi-cost

COMMENTARY-Mundy-women-economics

What helps women helps men.

COMMENTARY-walker-tulsa-shooting

Were Tulsa shootings hate crimes?

COMMENTARY-Bennett-Thiel-Education

Are colleges afraid of Peter Thiel?

COMMENTARY-France-America-Relationship

Why the French still crave America's love.

LOAD-DATE: April 19, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

112 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 18, 2012 Wednesday 11:30 AM EST

Obama re-elect going up with Spanish language ads

BYLINE: By Paul Steinhauser, CNN Political Editor

LENGTH: 233 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- President Barack Obama's re-election campaign is going up with what they say are the first in a series of Spanish language television and radio commercials.

The re-election team announced Wednesday that the ads will run in Colorado, Nevada and Florida, three battleground states with lots of Spanish speaking voters that both Democrats and Republicans will likely heavily court ahead of November's presidential election.

According to the campaign, the spots feature "first person accounts from Obama for America organizers sharing their personal stories of how the president's policies have empowered Latino families and communities."

The campaign adds the release of the commercials coincides with the launch of Latinos for Obama, which the campaign describes as the "largest ever national effort to engage Latino Americans in their communities and involve them in the upcoming election through voter registration, volunteering and voting."

According to exit polls from the 2008 presidential election, Obama won 67% of the Hispanic vote, compared to 31% for Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the then-GOP presidential nominee.

A Pew Research Center poll released Tuesday indicates that while the president holds a narrow 49% to 45% advantage over all but certain Republican nominee Mitt Romney in a November showdown among all Americans, among Hispanic voters Obama holds a 30-point lead, 67% to 27%.

LOAD-DATE: April 19, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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Environment and Energy Daily

April 18, 2012 Wednesday

CAMPAIGN 2012: Top GOP contributor embroiled in Texas waste controversy

SECTION: POLITICS Vol. 10 No. 9

LENGTH: 803 words

Hannah Northey, E&E reporter

A Texas billionaire who is one of the top Republican campaign contributors of the 2012 presidential cycle is at the center of an ongoing controversy over a waste storage project near Andrews, Texas.

Harold Simmons, a majority owner of Waste Control Specialists, has donated more than $11.5 million this election cycle, according to Political MoneyLine, with most of the money -- at least $10 million -- going to American Crossroads, the conservative super PAC connected to Karl Rove, President George W. Bush's political guru.

Simmons has also given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Restore Our Future, a super PAC backing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the likely Republican presidential nominee. Romney's campaign recently announced that Ed Gillespie, the former Republican National Committee chairman and founder of the American Crossroads, is joining the campaign in a voluntary role as a senior adviser.

In a rare interview, published last month in The Wall Street Journal, Simmons, who is 80, referred to President Obama as "that socialist" and called the president "the most dangerous American alive."

But lately, Simmons has been grabbing more headlines for a waste dump he owns in Texas that has sparked concern among local environmental and consumer advocacy groups for its potential to pollute local sources of water, including the Ogallala Aquifer.

Simmons owns a majority of stock in Valhi Inc., the parent company of Waste Control Specialists, which operates a waste facility in western Andrews County, Texas. The site is the only commercial facility in the United States licensed to dispose of Class A, B and C low-level radioactive waste.

WCS is currently waiting for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to allow the company to begin importing low-level radioactive waste from more than 35 states at its $500 million, private site near the New Mexico border (Greenwire, March 19).

The TCEQ granted WCS a license in 2009 to dispose of low-level radioactive waste at its 1,338-acre treatment, storage and disposal facility, but the state agency has not yet authorized the company to begin disposal operations. The Dallas-based company says the facility is located in an arid and isolated location, atop a formation of 500 feet of impermeable red-bed clay, which makes it an "ideal setting for the storage and disposal" of waste. The company has also said the state of Texas has determined that the facility does not sit above or adjacent to any underground drinking water formations.

Opponents of the project say the waste dump has advanced due to Simmons' political connections.

Trevor Lovell, the environmental program coordinator for Texas Public Citizen, said at least one former TCEQ official who oversaw the project now works as a lobbyist for WCS. Lovell and Public Citizen are also trying to raise awareness about their concerns that water under the site could become contaminated if waste is stored there.

The site is also facing political opposition in Texas.

This week, state Rep. Lon Burnam (D) of Fort Worth, who opposes the project, asked Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) to allow him to make public confidential documents that he says detail state officials' concerns about possible groundwater near the dump site. Burnham asked Abbott at a press conference on Monday to allow him to release the documents, which he said he obtained under a 2009 open records request.

Texas regulators and WCS have dismissed those complaints.

Andrea Morrow, a spokeswoman for TCEQ, said saturated groundwater has not been detected within 100 feet of the site and WCS is not violating the terms of its license, particularly because the company has not yet started to accept waste. There's no timeline for the commission to approve imports of waste to the dump, but Morrow said TCEQ believes the "license, if issued, will be protective of human health and the environment."

Morrow also said "the license to construct and subsequent amendments have been subject to rigorous review over a period of years."

The state agency will monitor more than 250 wells surrounding the disposal facility, including different zones that may contain water including uppermost groundwater in the Ogallala Aquifer and surrounding sandstone layers, she said. TCEQ employees permanently assigned to the site will also be on duty when the waste is received and disposed of, she said.

Chuck McDonald, a spokesman for WCS, said material shipped to the site will be stored in lead and steel casks that are approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. There have been very few incidents of exposure because the material is so well-protected, he added.

McDonald also said Burnam's comments were simply a ploy for attention and that the state lawmaker has opposed the project for at least a decade.

LOAD-DATE: May 17, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

114 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News

April 18, 2012 Wednesday

John DiStaso's Granite Status: DCCC targets Guinta, Bass; Publisher Steve Forbes backs Lamontagne for governor

BYLINE: John DiStaso, The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester

SECTION: STATE AND REGIONAL NEWS

LENGTH: 4341 words

April 18--WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, UPDATE: DEMS TARGET BASS, GUINTA. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is reserving $520,000 worth of advertising time on WMUR television in Manchester for post-Labor Day buys.

A Democratic source confirmed the report in Politico, which said that the DCCC is preparing $32 million worth of broadcast ad buys nationally, targeting the seats of 26 GOP incumbents, including New Hampshire's Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass, as well as seven Democratic incumbents and three open seats.

Both New Hampshire congressmen, especially Bass, are viewed as vulnerable by the Democrats.

As Politico noted, Democrats need to pick up 25 seats to gain control of the House.

According to a Democrat familiar with the planned buys, this is the first of multiple waves of advertising buys planned by the DCCC, some focusing on swing states where the presidential contenders will be vying.

The $520,000 planned to be spent at WMUR, but not actually spent there, yet, may focus on one or both of the races. To what degree one race takes place over the other -- or how much is actually spent in New Hampshire in total -- remains to be seen, although it is clear that the Bass race against Kuster will receive much attention from both sides.

"Congressmen Bass and Guinta were swept into office on a Tea Party wave that is now nowhere to be found," said DCCC regional press secretary Josh Schwerin. "Since then, both have voted to end Medicare while protecting tax breaks for billionaires and, in the process, proven that they are wildly out of touch with Granite State voters and extremely vulnerable in November."

A Republican source says he has been told by national GOP media buyers that WMUR has not yet heard from the DCCC regarding the buy.

"It's clear that Nancy Pelosi is planning to use her Washington special interest money to boost Annie Kuster," said NHGOP executive director Tory Mazolla, "but the reality is that this is more smoke-and-mirrors because a meaningless reservation has no money behind it. If they really thought Kuster had a chance, they'd pre-pay, but that's a gamble they are not willing to take."

(Earlier reports and the full April 12 Granite Status follows.)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, UPDATE: FORBES FOR OVIDE. Conservative financial magazine publisher and Fox News television personality Steve Forbes is endorsing fellow Republican Ovide Lamontagne for New Hampshire governor.

Forbes, a two-time presidential candidate, endorsed Lamontagne in his run for the U.S. Senate in 2010, a race Lamontagne narrowly lost in a party primary to current U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte.

In backing Lamontagne in 2010, Forbes called him "a proven conservative leader of principle and conviction" who will be a "friend to taxpayers."

The Granite Status has also learned that Forbes will come to New Hampshire next month to campaign with Lamontagne.

On May 8, Forbes will be featured at a reception for Lamontagne at the Devine Millimet law firm.

On May 9, Lamontagne and Forbes will co-host a small business roundtable for regional small business leaders at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College.

(Earlier updates and the full April 12 Granite Status follow. A new Granite Status will appear tomorrow in the New Hampshire Union Leader with a full version here on UnionLeader.com.)

MONDAY, APRIL 16, UPDATE: ANOTHER TERM. New Hampshire House speaker Bill O'Brien, R-Mont Vernon, today announced his candidacy for re-election as representative in his House district of New Boston and Mont Vernon and as Speaker of the House.

The speaker also announced five co-chairmen of the campaign, Speaker Pro Tempore Gene Chandler, R-Bartlett; Municipal and County Government Committee Chair and Finance Committee Vice-Chair Lynne Ober, R-Hudson, Ways and Means Chair Stephen Stepanek, R-Amherst, House Republican Alliance co-chair Marilinda Garcia, R-Salem, and Freshmen Republican Caucus co-chair Dan Tamburello, R-Londonderry.

O'Brien said in a statement he is "looking forward to having an open conversation with the citizens of New Boston and Mont Vernon, and with my colleagues of the House about the important issues facing New Hampshire and the extraordinary achievements of this Legislature."

MONDAY, APRIL 16, UPDATE: GUINTA LEADS IN FUND-RAISING. Republican U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta had nearly a half-million dollars more cash in his campaign account than Democratic challenger and former U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter had at the end of the first quarter of the year.

Guinta's campaign reported raising $180,332 in the first quarter, putting him at $986,038 for the election cycle. The campaign says its cash on hand as of March 31 was $674,747.

Shea-Porter's campaign says it raised $101,289 in the quarter and $395,154 since the November 2010 election, in which Guinta defeated Shea-Porter. She reports having $183,159 cash on hand as of March 31.

(Earlier updates and the full April 12 Granite Status follow.)

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, UPDATE: KELLY RAPS HILARY ROSEN. New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte joined a chorus of outrage today over a nationally-known Democratic strategist's comments belittling Ann Romney, the wife of likely GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Hilary Rosen has generated bipartisan criticism by saying on CNN on Wednesday night:

"What you have is Mitt Romney running around the country, saying, 'Well, you know, my wife tells me that what women really care about are economic issues, and when I listen to my wife, that's what I'm hearing.' Guess what? His wife has actually never worked a day in her life."

The Democratic National Committee quickly separated itself and the Obama campaign from the remark.

"What she said was absolutely out of bounds," DNC executive director Patrick Gaspard said on MSNBC. "Ann Romney is someone who obviously has worked hard to raise five good boys and she's made some tough choices in her life, I'm certain. Families should be absolutely out of bounds in this discussion."

Gaspard also said Rosen "is absolutely not a paid adviser to the DNC or to the Obama campaign."

Ayotte joined other Republican women surrogates from across the country on a conference call as the Romney campaign began an all-out effort to try to close a gender gap it faces now that the general election phase of the campaign has effectively begun.

"I think it was very insulting for President Obama's advisor and (Democratic National Committee) strategist Hilary Rosen to make the comment she made about Ann Romney yesterday, that she never worked a day in her life," said Ayotte, the mother of four-year-old and seven-year-old children.

"In fact, it's insulting that the President's advisor would dismiss the value of the important and hard work women do in raising children," Ayotte said.

"Ann Romney chose to stay at home and I admire her for that, for raising five boys," Ayotte said. "And as she said herself, it's really hard work raising children. She also volunteered her time working for charities."

Ayotte noted that Ann Romney "has suffered from multiple sclerosis and is also a survivor of cancer.

"But at the end of the day," said Ayotte, when you look at where we are, women have faced massive job losses under this administration and the policies of this President have failed women voters _ and men, too. These are issues that impact all Americans."

Ayotte said she is "worried about what we're leaving for the next generation in terms of the massive debt that we've incurred _ nearly $5 trillion of debt incurred under this President and the opportunities out children are going to have for the next generation. He has failed at getting our fiscal house in order.

"Women are concerned about what we're leaving for our children," Ayotte said.

The Romney campaign, trailing among women by 19 percentage points in a Washington Post/ABC News poll this week, is trying to show that Obama's policies, especially on the economy, have hurt women.

But the campaign opened itself to criticism on Wednesday when a top Romney campaign aid was unable to say whether Romney supported the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which was signed into law by Obama and makes it easier for women to litigate for equal pay.

The campaign later released a statement saying Romney supports equal pay for women, but did not specifically say how he feels about the law.

(Earlier updates and the full April 12 Granite Status follow.)

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, UPDATE: WELCOME, VP BIDEN. As a candidate for President in 2007, Joe Biden said primary foe Barack Obama was not ready to be President, and according to former Gov. John H. Sununu, he was right.

As Biden prepares to arrive in Exeter this afternoon, Sununu told reporters, "Today, even with three years in office, (Obama) is clearly demonstrating that he still doesn't have enough experience to be President."

Biden will promote the "Buffett Rule" while in the state, an Obama proposal to raise taxes on millionaires to 30 percent of income.

"Do we pay down those deficits, cutting wherever we can, while we invest in the things we know we must to grow our economy and good, middle class jobs--education; research and development; clean energy technology?" Biden will say, according to the campaign. "Or do we continue to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on these tax windfalls for millionaires _ windfalls they do not need and haven't asked for.

"It's not the American way. We're not supposed to have a system that's rigged. We're not supposed to have a system with one set of rules for the wealthy and one set of rules for everyone else," Biden will say.

Biden will say Mitt Romney's plan to extend the Bush tax cuts beyond December "will cost about $1 trillion over the next 10 years. And $800 billion of that trillion will go to people to make a minimum of $1 million a year.

"And to add insult to injury, he proposes to give another $250,000 in tax cuts to the average millionaire. That's another trillion dollars to the top 1 percent _ on top of making permanent the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy."

Biden will say the Buffett Rule "says that multi-millionaires should pay at least the same percentage of their income in taxes as middle-class families do.

"The Romney Rule says the very wealthy should keep the tax cuts and loopholes they have, and get an additional, new tax cut every year that is worth more than what the average middle class family makes in an entire year," Biden will say, according to the Obama campaign.

Sununu, who has traveled the country campaigning for Romney, told reporters, "Here we are with a huge deficit crisis, a huge job crisis and Joe Biden and President Obama and here he is promoting taxes that fundamentally designed to be punitive and, frankly, designed to be a political tool in a class warfare agenda that President Obama seems to be embarking on in this campaign."

He called on Obama and Biden to make "significant contributions to charity, noting that Romney "gave almost 15 percent of his income last year to charity."

"So, welcome to New Hampshire, Joe Biden. It's a shame you don't know how to talk about jobs that America needs and it's a shame you don't know how to create the jobs that America needs," said Sununu.

State Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley said, "I find it interesting that Vice President is coming to the 'Live Free or Die' state, a state that has neither a broad based income tax or a broad based sales tax with his message that it's time to raise taxes."

"It's exactly the wrong prescription for now to get our economy back on track," said Bradley.

John Stephen, the 2010 New Hampshire Republican gubernatorial nominee and a former supporter of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, is now on board with Romney.

He told reporters that "candidates have not fared very well in New Hampshire historically when they come into our state and promote new taxes. The President has done nothing to create an environment that cultivates jobs."

Sununu said that now that Romney has all but wrapped up the GOP presidential nomination, the campaign will rev up operations in New Hampshire.

"Now that things have settled out, the Romney campaign will start putting its general election resources into play," Sununu said. "There has obviously got to be a bit of a fund-raising effort first. I think New Hampshire is certainly one of the key state they focus on."

He said Democrats "had well over 30 full time staffers and tons of offices that they opened up in the 2010 election, but the Republicans focused on getting good candidates, which are the key to success.

"The Republicans ate the Democrats' lunch in the 2010 election and they will do the same in the 2012 election," Sununu said.

The Republican National Committee today also released a web video attacking Obama on the economy.

After Biden left the state Thursday, the New Hampshire Democratic Party shot back that Romney, by choosing Sununu as a surrogate, "speaks volumes about just how out of touch Mitt Romney is with middle class Americans. John 'Where's My Jet' Sununu is a Washington, D.C. lobbyist with a questionable ethics record who, like Mitt Romney, thinks he can play by a different set of rules than working families."

Democratic National Committee member Kathy Sullivan said, "Sununu, while serving in George H.W. Bush's White House, repeatedly misused government resources for his own benefit. Sununu took a government-funded limo to attend a stamp auction at Christie's, the high end auction house, and improperly used military aircraft for personal and political travel. Sununu's repeated misuse of government resources prompted a review of government travel policies."

"Mitt Romney and John Sununu think that they can play by a different set of rules than everyone else," Sullivan said, "which makes Sununu the perfect spokesperson for a candidate who's campaigning on a platform where millionaires and billionaires pay a lower tax rate than hard-working middle class families."

(The full April 12 Granite Status follows.)

THURSDAY, APRIL 12: NOT A PUSH POLL. Chuck Douglas, new lead counsel for Rep. Charlie Bass's fight against allegations his last campaign conducted an illegal push poll, says the Attorney General's case contains "a fundamental legal error."

The AG alleges the Bass campaign broke the state's push poll law by deliberately avoiding identifying itself as a sponsor of a negative poll against challenger Ann McLane Kuster in September 2010. Bass narrowly beat the Democrat that November.

The Bass campaign could be fined as much as $400,000, or $1,000 for each of 400 calls.

The AG says Bass campaign e-mails show the campaign split the survey's cost with the National Republican Congressional Committee. The e-mails show the initial survey script said it was paid for by the Bass campaign. But then-Bass campaign manager David Kanevsky asked that the NRCC be identified as the sole sponsor because, he wrote, "I'd rather have any issues about 'push polling' be blamed on them (the NRCC) rather than us."

The NRCC agreed. The final script identified the NRCC as sponsor, with no mention of Bass.

Bass' campaign says the AG's charge is invalid because the poll was "a legitimate message testing survey," not a push poll.

Douglas told us that under the law, "any poll being conducted by a political party, such as the National Republican Congressional Committee, is not a 'push poll.'"

In a statement, Douglas said a push poll is "specifically defined" as a telephone poll conducted "in a manner which is likely to be construed by the voter to be a survey or poll to gather statistical data for entities or organizations which are acting independently of any particular political party, candidate or interest group."

"In other words," Douglas said, "a telephone poll is not a 'push poll' unless it is conducted in such a way that a voter would be led to believe that it was being done by an independent polling organization unconnected with a particular candidate or his party.

"The statute prevents candidates or their parties from hiding behind an 'independent' sounding name, like 'Americans for a Better America,'" he said.

Douglas said, "The fatal flaw in the Attorney General's case ... is that the National Republican Congressional Committee openly took ownership of the poll it helped pay for. There was no attempt to portray the poll as having been conducted by some disinterested academic organization.

"Because the NRCC took credit for the poll, the poll was not a 'push poll' as defined by New Hampshire statute, and that means the Bass Victory Campaign did not violate any state election law."

The law also says anyone who engages in push polling must inform the call recipient that the call "is being made on behalf of, in support of, or in opposition to a particular candidate for public office, identify that candidate by name," and provide a telephone number.

Douglas said this requirement does not apply to the Bass case but even if the survey were a push poll, the law was followed because at least one of the sponsors was identified.

"I don't know if the AG's office understands what a push poll is, but this is not one," he said. He also noted that voter opinion surveys usually poll 400 or 500 people, while in true push polls, "it's thousands or tens of thousands."

Douglas shrugged off former campaign manager Kanevsky actually calling the survey "push polling" in his e-mail to the NRCC.

"He's not an attorney, so he may not have understood," Douglas said. "And he's not binding on the campaign. You have to look at the disclaimer, not what some kid thinks it means."

MOOT ISSUE? The Federal Election Commission may provide Bass a boost, or perhaps render the case moot, with a key decision due in the next several weeks. (An FEC spokesman said Wednesday the decision would be due Thursday, but told us on Thursday morning that while the issue will be discussed Thursday, there will be no vote.)

FEC commissioners are scheduled to discuss and possibly vote on whether the state law is superseded by the Federal Election Campaign Act.

A request for an advisory opinion was sent to the FEC in February by the Democratic polling firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, which says it plans to poll for "certain federal candidates" and "certain nonprofit organizations" in the Granite State this year.

"GQRR's survey research will typically consist of questions regarding demographics, the respondent's views on various issues, the respondent's impressions of the political parties and national political figures, the likelihood to vote for particular federal candidate or candidates, and the likelihood of the respondent to vote for a specific federal candidate after hearing various positive and/or negative information about the candidate," wrote Greenberg Quinlan attorney Joseph Sandler.

Sandler noted the FEC has ruled that the federal law and its regulations "do not require that any disclaimer be included in telephone survey research," and his client "is concerned that it may be required to comply with these (state) provisions with respect to its proposed polling in New Hampshire, referencing only federal candidates."

The NH AG's office told the FEC the state law should apply to federal candidates. Assistant Attorney General Matt Mavrogeorge wrote, "The Commission has repeatedly held that state regulations that do not address reporting, expenditures, contributions or political advertising are valid exercises of state power.

"The FEC's regulations do not include telephone surveys as part of its regulatory scheme or its preemption authority" under federal election law, Mavrogeorge wrote. "This is consistent with the Supreme Court's admonition that the police powers of the state should not be superseded unless there is clear congressional intent to do so."

Four draft opinions will be reviewed today. Two say that yes, there is clear history that Congress intended that the provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act "supersede and preempt any provision of State law with respect to election to federal office."

A third draft says that although the federal "likely" preempts the state law, it is up to the courts, not the FEC, to make that call.

In a fourth draft, the FEC declines to give its opinion because the request is asking whether a state law, not the federal election act, applies to its planned polling activities.

BIDEN AND BUFFETT. With Vice President Joe Biden set to push President Obama's "Buffett rule" in Exeter today, there were dueling press conferences on the issue yesterday.

On the Democratic side, state AFL-CIO president Mark MacKenzie said, "The question is should we ask middle class Americans to pay even more or should we ask the wealthiest Americans to pay what is really their fair share?"

Democratic activist and CPA Deborah Butler said under the rule named for billionaire Warren Buffett, people who earn more than $1 million a year in income would pay a minimum 30 percent in taxes. It would primarily effect people with a significant amount of capital gains income.

"American prospers when everyone does their fair share and plays by the same rules," said Butler.

The measure would reportedly raise an estimated $47 billion over 10 years, a tiny percentage of government spending and debt. But Obama says it would be enough to spare some popular government programs.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus countered, "It's really funny that they chose the 'Live Free or Die' state to promote a new tax gimmick. Granite Staters will see through this effort to divide voters."

State GOP Chairman Wayne MacDonald said the "continuous trips" by Obama and Biden to the state "show just how worried they are about New Hampshire." He said the "Buffett Rule" is "just as phony as his 'hope and change' message from four years ago."

On Saturday, the Obama campaign plans to push "Buffett" with a "Tax Fairness Day of Action," going door-to-door in 20 communities. Leading the charge in Nashua will be Providence, R.I., Mayor Angel Taveras.

A TOSS-UP. With a big Republican State Committee meeting scheduled for Saturday at Inter-Lakes High School in Meredith, a source tells us the race for Republican National Committeewoman between Deputy House Speaker Pam Tucker and former Cheshire County GOP Chair Juliana Bergeron appears to be a toss-up.

The woman elected will succeed Phyllis Woods after the national convention this summer.

It's the only contested race so far, although write-ins will be accepted.

In other open races, the candidates are Cliff Hurst for party vice chairman, Diane Bitter for assistant secretary, Steve Duprey for a full term as national committeeman and Mark Vincent for Area 3 vice chairman.

"LIBERAL LEE" NYQUIST? In his first bid for state office, Democrat Lee Nyquist of New Boston has "made it" already to the GOP "hit list."

"As Lee Nyquist starts to put together his campaign for Senate District 9 as a 'self described moderate,' he should start explaining his recent history of supporting far left liberals like Paul Hodes and tax-and-spend Democrats like President Barack Obama," the NHGOP said in a leadoff slap at Nyquist this week. "In 2008, liberal Lee Nyquist donated to Hodes, a liberal who supported Speaker Nancy Pelosi 95 percent of the time," and Obama.

According to the independent political "watchdog" web site OpenSecrets.org, Nyquist in 2008 donated $500 to Obama and $250 to Hodes.

"Lee Nyquist is only fooling himself if he's going to run a campaign about his so-called 'moderate' record," NHGOP Chairman Wayne MacDonald said in the statement. "He's an enthusiastic liberal."

Nyquist called the statement "a prime example of the partisan and uncivil tone that is unfortunately the standard operating procedure for our Legislature today. It reflects the atmosphere that is crippling our state government and is the reason I'm running for the state Senate."

Meanwhile, Republican state Rep. Ken Hawkins of Bedford has made it official that he is a candidate for the District 9 seat. The announcement sets up a potential primary with state Sen. Andy Sanborn, who says he will relocate from Henniker to Bedford to run for the seat, and Andy Peterson of Peterborough, who formerly served in the House and Senate, who may run.

Hawkins, a more than 30-year resident of Bedford, perhaps contrasting himself with Sanborn, said, "I am proud to say my roots are long and strong in representing my hometown and region."

He said that in five House terms, he has "led efforts to reform our pension system, pushed for a fiscally responsible state budget and always voted against job-killing tax increases. As a state senator I will continue to push to make government more accountable, promote policies that spur growth and create jobs and defend the rights of taxpayers."

Hawkins said he is planning two fund-raisers, scheduling campaign appearances and has a web site under construction.

OVIDE'S NEW WEB SITE, OFFICE. GOP candidate for governor Ovide Lamontagne's campaign headquarter has been set up at the Brady Sullivan Tower, 1750 Elm St., Manchester, and will be open for business next week. The location is the former site of Rick Perry's presidential campaign.

Lamontagne's campaign has revamped and updated his Ovide2012.com web site with a new look and additional information.

BENSON FOR SMITH. Former Gov. Craig Benson yesterday endorsed his former staffer, Kevin Smith, for governor.

Smith held the title of Liaison to the Executive Council and Department Heads for Benson. While Democrats quickly criticized Smith for his Benson as "ethically challenged role model and mentor," Smith, in Benson, will have a wealthy and well-connected fund-raiser.

Benson called Smith "the only candidate with a long-term vision to rebuild our economy and education system around new industries and exciting technologies that will lead to better jobs and help keep our young people here in New Hampshire."

John DiStaso is senior political reporter of the New Hampshire Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News.

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Providence Journal

April 18, 2012 Wednesday

Callista Gingrich visits R.I.;
Politics

BYLINE: Randal Edgar, Journal State House Bureau

SECTION: NEWS; Local; Pg. 4

LENGTH: 623 words

HIGHLIGHT: Wife of GOP presidential candidate read from her new book, ahead of Tuesday s primary

With her husband far behind in delegates but still in the race, Callista Gingrich arrived in Rhode Island this week with a message for the people who are following the 2012 Republican presidential primary.

Win or lose, Newt Gingrich is determined to have an impact on the outcome.

Our only opponent is Barack Obama, she told members of the East Greenwich Republican Town Committee on Tuesday evening, following a busy day that also took her to Middletown and East Providence. And we are committed to removing him from the White House.

Gingrich arrived on Monday for a three-day visit, one that supporters hope will sway votes, or at least the political dialogue leading up to next Tuesday s presidential primary and the election beyond. Her Ocean State audiences have included college students, preschool and elementary school students, and, in East Greenwich, at Caprice restaurant on Main Street, solid Republicans.

You re able to have an impact on the policy and the way the election is going, so I think it s important. And anything can happen, said Caswell Cooke, a Westerly Town Council member who is serving as state director for Gingrich s campaign. Until somebody gets the magic number, there s no nomination.

About 30 people dined on scrod and sirloin steak tips at the East Greenwich event and then listened as Gingrich talked about American Exceptionalism.

Today, America stands at a pivotal moment, not only economically but socially, politically, she said. We are certainly in a great debate over whether America is an exceptional nation, or whether we are just another country.

She added: Nothing pinpoints you more as a conservative, and as a Republican, than believing in American exceptionalism.

Earlier in the day, Gingrich read to children at the Newport YMCA, in Middletown, and at the Weaver Library, in East Providence.

At both stops, she read from her children s book, Sweet Land of Liberty, which tells the story of Ellis, an elephant who travels through time to see some of the most important events in United States history.

About 20 children and parents listened as Gingrich read and ad-libbed. Sitting next to her was a human-sized Ellis manned by an unseen Gingrich campaign staffer who waved and gave thumbs up to the children.

Some of the attendees just happened to be there for the visit, said children s librarian Pamela Schwieger. But others were there to hear Gingrich read.

It was a beautiful story. I love how it highlights so many elements of U.S. history, said Melonie Massa, a former East Providence resident who now lives in Bristol. She was there with her children, Marina, 16, Luke, 13, Evie, 4, Amalia, 18 months, and her nephew Andrew, 4.

After the library reading, Gingrich posed for photos with children and adults and said in a brief interview that she believes her husband, who has 136 delegates to frontrunner Mitt Romney s 684, is the voice for the conservative movement.

She added, however, that whatever happens, we ll support the nominee.

She said she could not resist having an adorable little elephant as her lead character in her book.

I must say, I didn t consider a donkey, she said.

While Callista Gingrich was visiting both sides of Narragansett Bay Tuesday, her husband was to speak at Republican events in Dauphin and Lancaster counties, in Pennsylvania, one of five states, along with Rhode Island, that have primaries next Tuesday.

Both Gingriches will be back on the campaign trail on Wednesday.

While Newt Gingrich makes appearances in Pennsylvania and Delaware, Callista Gingrich is scheduled to make a morning visit to the Smithfield YMCA and an afternoon visit to Women & Infants Hospital, where she will tour the Women s Oncology and Breast Health Center.

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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: redgar@providencejournal.com (401) 277-7418

GRAPHIC: Photographers snap pictures of Sandra Scimeca, of East Providence, and her daughter Angela, 2, with Callista Gingrich, wife of Newt Gingrich, and book character Ellis at Weaver Library in East Providence Tuesday.
Melonie Massa, of Bristol, and daughter Evie, 4, listen to Gingrich read from her book, Sweet Land of Liberty at Weaver Library in East Providence.

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The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

April 18, 2012 Wednesday
AE Edition

YOUR VIEWS

SECTION: OPINION; Pg. A10

LENGTH: 1299 words

Don't color-brand schoolchildren

Our children may be placed in greater danger by a required uniform dress code program in Clifton schools. We live in a post-9/11, post-Columbine society. We need better security, but not policies that might make our children vulnerable to criminals and predators.

There have been a number of reported cases of sexual assaults in our high school. Cameras are a good idea, but uniform dress will make it difficult to distinguish between individuals and identify criminals. Victims will have a harder time describing their assailants.

Outsiders may get into schools by simply blending in by wearing the school's colors. This policy potentially provides criminals with a convenient form of camouflage, funded by taxpayers and parents.

It will also advertise our children's age to sexual predators.

Forcing parents to color-brand their children as they walk to and from school does not sound like a good idea.

National reports indicate problems interpreting and enforcing these policies. In Florida, an overzealous administrator reached inside a child's pants to check spandex content, and children have been forced to change into loaner clothing in dark closets. The potential to create an atmosphere of intimidation and possible abuse of power is significant.

Those concerned about this important matter should attend the Clifton Board of Education meeting on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Clifton High School Media Center.

We need better safety standards, not uniform standard dress.

Ann Schnakenberg

Clifton, April 16

Avoiding basic issue in election

Regarding "For women, choice is clear in November" (Your Views, April 16):

The letter writer lashes out again and again at the Republican presidential aspirants, even the party as a whole, for intruding into women's lives with their proposed restrictions on abortion and even certain birth control options that would kill an already conceived child.

So which is more important: sexual freedom or life? All the Republican seekers of their party's presidential nominee -- including the now-presumed candidate, Mitt Romney -- are for life.

What a woman can or cannot do with her own body is one thing. But what she can or cannot do with another living human being growing within her is quite a different thing.

Elsie P. Palmer

Wayne, April 16

Regarding "For women, choice is clear in November" (Your Views, April 16):

President Obama and some of his minions put their feet into their mouths when they tried to rule that the Catholic Church, other religious organizations and related non-governmental organizations had to violate their religious beliefs by offering health care insurance that would provide birth control and other abortifacients to their employees. Some of those plans are self-insured.

The real issue is an attack on religious freedom, which the Washington spinmeisters have attempted to warp into a war on women. President Obama realized he didn't want to go to war with the Catholic Church or other faiths.

I don't hear Republicans repeating any "war against women" mantra. I don't want my religious freedom controlled by any government. That's the real issue.

Alfred J. Murphy Jr.

Hillsdale, April 16

The writer is a former Democratic municipal chairman.

For some people, reality matters

Regarding "Reducing price of oil" (Your Views, April 13):

It must be very nice to live in a world with an alternative reality, as do many right-wingers.

In a recent letter, a reader blames President Obama for the rising oil prices and praises President Bush's blustering about drilling more and drilling now for falling oil prices.

In reality, from 2001, when Bush took office, oil prices were about $35. By December 2008, just before he left office, they had reached more than $130 a barrel. Some people overlook these facts.

True, when Bush left office oil prices had dropped precipitously. But that reflected Obama's support of alternative energy.

And now, Mitt Romney is running around telling women that Obama's economic program has hurt women disproportionately. The facts that men lost the bulk of the jobs in the recession and that the loss of jobs for women now comes from Republican governors' failure to fund public services that traditionally provide jobs for women -- teaching, social work, government offices -- are treated as completely irrelevant.

I wish I could live in a world of my own imagining, as do so many Republicans. But for me, unfortunately, reality seems to matter.

Linda Cetta

Demarest, April 13

People under attack of the privileged

Regarding "Christie back on national stage" (Page A-6, April 11):

I am tired of the 1 percent and their Republican allies in government attacking the citizens of this country as if we were to blame for the country's economic ills, when it was their actions and their policies that got us into this mess to begin with. That is exactly what Governor Christie did in his speech last week to a group of conservatives. He blamed the people.

The governor has proved where his loyalties lie. He and his allies among the 1 percent are engaging in a strategic effort to shift the blame of this economic crisis onto the victims, the American people, by labeling us a lazy rabble that would rather sit on our couches and collect a government check instead of working for a living. Did we ask to lose our jobs, our homes, our pensions, our health care benefits and our pride?

Christie should be propping his citizens up, not beating them down when they are desperate and struggling. This is not leadership. If the governor wants to attack the state of dependency, let him attack the corporate welfare that is ruining this country.

The people are under attack, and it is the privileged few who are driving it.

Marguerite Sansone

Wallington, April 17

Cruz follows path first trod by Doby

Regarding "City gives superstar his due" (Page A-1, April 16), on Paterson's honoring Giants player Victor Cruz:

I enjoyed the article. Its references to Larry Doby brought back pleasant memories. As a youth growing up in North Jersey, I was very proud of Doby. I followed his games and wanted very much for him to do well (except against the Yankees). Who can forget his record-setting long home run at old Yankee Stadium? He excelled on the athletic field and off.

It has been a long time since another person has come along to electrify the area. Because of his athletic exploits, Victor Cruz has often been mentioned as a hero. Little has been said about his off-field accomplishments. His visits to the pediatric section of The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood and Children's Hospital in New Brunswick have made him a true hero to the young people. In those children, he has implanted pleasant lifelong memories, as Larry Doby did for me.

John Margroff

Wyckoff, April 16

Failing to see opportunity

Regarding Columnist Charles Stile's "Pay-to-play blowback aimed at full repeal?" (Political Stile, Page L-1, April 17):

Right on.

Stile reports that Republican County Chairman Bob Yudin feels the pinch of the pay-to-play reform ordinance recently enacted by the Bergen County Board of Freeholders. Rather than viewing the glass as half-empty, Yudin would be better off realizing the half-full glass means his candidates for election or reelection now need raise only more modest sums to keep abreast of others running for the same offices.

Richard L. Colten

Upper Saddle River, April 17

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San Jose Mercury News (California)

April 18, 2012 Wednesday

Richard Cohen: Mitt Romney's business plan

BYLINE: By Richard Cohen

SECTION: NEWS; Opinion

LENGTH: 703 words

Among the attributes I most envy in a public man (or woman) is the ability to lie. If that ability is coupled with no sense of humor, you have the sort of man who can be a successful football coach, a CEO or, when you come right down to it, a presidential candidate. Such a man is Mitt Romney.

Time and time again, Romney has been called a liar during this campaign. (The various fact-checking organizations have had to work overtime on him alone.) A significant moment, sure to surface in the general election campaign, came during a debate held in New Hampshire in January. David Gregory, the host of "Meet the Press," turned to Newt Gingrich and said, "You have agreed with the characterization that Gov. Romney is a liar. Look at him now. Do you stand by that claim?"

Gingrich did not flinch. "Sure," he started off, and then accused Romney of running ads that were not true and, moreover, pretending he knew nothing about them. "It is your millionaire friends giving to the PAC. And you know some of the ads aren't true. Just say that straightforward."

Me, I would have confessed and begged for forgiveness. Not Romney, though -- and herein is the reason he will be such a formidable general election candidate. He concedes nothing. He had seen none of the ads, he said. They were done by others, he added. Of course, they are his supporters, but he had no control over them. All this time he was saying this rubbish, he seemed calm, sincere -- matter-of-fact.

And then he brought up an ad he said he did see. It was about Gingrich's heretical support for a climate change bill. He dropped the name of the extremely evil Nancy Pelosi. He accused Gingrich of criticizing Paul Ryan's first budget plan, an Ayn Randish document whose great virtue is a terrible honesty. (We are indeed going broke.) He added that Gingrich had been in ethics trouble in the House and ended with a promise to make sure his ads were as truthful as could be. Pow! Pow! Pow! Gingrich was on the canvas.

I watched, impressed. I admire a smooth liar, and Romney is among the best. His technique is to explain -- that bit about not knowing what was in the ads -- and then counterattack. He maintains the bulletproof demeanor of a man who is barely suffering fools, in this case Gingrich. His message is not so much what he says, but what he is: You cannot touch me. I have the organization and the money. Especially the money. (Even the hair.) You're a loser.

There are those who maintain that President Barack Obama, too, is a liar. The president's recent attack on Ryan's new budget proposal sent countless critics scurrying to their thesauruses for ways to say "lie" -- "comprehensively misrepresenting" is the way George F. Will put it. (He also said Obama "is not nearly as well educated as many thought.") Obama does indeed sometimes play politics with the truth, as when he declared that a Supreme Court reversal of his health care law would be unprecedented. He then backed down. Not what he meant, he said.

But where Romney is different is that he is not honest about himself. He could, as he did just recently, stand before the National Rifle Association as if he was, in spirit as well as membership, one of them. In body language, in blinking of the eyes, in the nonexistent pounding pulse, there was not the tiniest suggestion that here was a man who just as confidently once embodied the anti-gun ethic of Massachusetts, the distant land he once governed. Instead, he tore into Obama for the (nonexistent) threat the president posed to Second Amendment rights -- a false accusation from a false champion.

A marathon of debates and an eon of campaigning have toughened and honed Romney. He commands the heights of great assurance and he knows, as some of us learn too late in life, that the truth is not always a moral obligation but sometimes merely what works. He often cites his business background as commending him for the presidency. That's his forgivable absurdity. Instead, what his career has given him is the businessman's concept of self -- that what he does is not who he is. Business is business. It's what you do. It is not who you are. Lying isn't a sin. It's a business plan.

Richard Cohen is a Washington Post columnist.

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States News Service

April 18, 2012 Wednesday

ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT RELEASES NEW WEB VIDEO: "PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MEASURE OF PROGRESS"

BYLINE: States News Service

LENGTH: 697 words

DATELINE: BOSTON, MA

The following information was released by Mitt Romney for President:

Today, Romney for President released a new web video titled "President Obama's Measure Of Progress." Four years ago at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, then-candidate Barack Obama said that Democrats measure progress by whether people can find a job and provide for themselves and their families. In September, President Obama and the Democrats will meet for the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina, a state that has lost nearly 50,000 jobs since President Obama took office and has an unemployment rate of nearly 10%.

To View "President Obama's Measure Of Progress," Please See: http://mi.tt/INWQbH

AD FACTS: Script For "President Obama's Measure Of Progress" (Web Video)

VIDEO TEXT: "August 28, 2008 Denver, Colorado"

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA: "You see we Democrats have a very different measure of what constitutes progress in this country. We measure progress by how many people can find a job that pays the mortgage, whether you can put a little extra money away at the end of each month so you can someday watch your child receive her college diploma."

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA (D-IL): "You see we Democrats have a very different measure of what constitutes progress in this country. We measure progress by how many people can find a job that pays the mortgage, whether you can put a little extra money away at the end of each month so you can someday watch your child receive her college diploma." (Barack Obama, Remarks, Democratic National Convention, 8/28/08)

VIDEO TEXT: "On September 3, 2012 Barack Obama And The Democrats Will Meet In Charlotte, North Carolina"

VIDEO TEXT: "Here's What You Won't Hear At The Convention"

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA: "We measure progress by how many people can find a job that pays the mortgage."

VIDEO TEXT: "North Carolina Has Lost Nearly 50,000 Jobs Since President Obama Took Office"

Under President Obama, North Carolina Has Lost 47,800 Jobs. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 4/15/12)

VIDEO TEXT: "That's Over Twice The Size Of The Arena Where The Convention Will Be Held"

Convention Proceedings Will Take Place In Time Warner Cable Arena Which Seats 20,000 People. (Democratic National Convention Website, Accessed 4/17/12; Time Warner Cable Arena Website, Accessed 4/17/12)

VIDEO TEXT: "Unemployment Rate Is 9.9%"

Under President Obama, North Carolina's Unemployment Rate Increased From 9% In January 2009 To 9.9% Today. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 4/15/12)

VIDEO TEXT: "In Charlotte Unemployment Is Even Higher 10%"

The Unemployment Rate in The Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill Metropolitan Area Is 10 Percent. "Unemployment in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill metropolitan area declined to 10 percent from 10.4 percent in January, according to figures released Thursday from the N.C. Department of Commerce's Division of Employment Security." (Kirsten Valle Pittman, "Charlotte-Area Unemployment Rate Falls In February," Charlotte Observer, 4/6/12)

VIDEO TEXT: "In Total 450,000 North Carolinians Are Unemployed"

North Carolina Currently Has 463,983 Unemployed Workers. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 4/15/12)

VIDEO TEXT: "Up 13% Since Obama Took Office"

Under President Obama, North Carolina Has An Additional 53,199 Unemployed Workers. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 4/15/12)

North Carolina Currently Has 463,983 Unemployed Workers. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 4/15/12)

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: "If I don't have this done in three years, then there's going to be a one-term proposition."

President Obama: "If I Don't Have This Done In Three Years, Then There's Going To Be A One-Term Proposition." (NBC's "Today," 2/2/09)

VIDEO TEXT: "ObamaIsn'tWorking.com"

LOAD-DATE: April 18, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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Tampa Bay Times

April 18, 2012 Wednesday
4 State / Suncoast Edition

REGRESSIVE TAX MUST BE REFORMED

SECTION: NATIONAL; YOUR LETTERS; Pg. 10A

LENGTH: 1036 words

Obama's tax rate below secretary's - April 14

The White House just released President Barack Obama's tax return and said it shows a slightly lower income tax rate than his secretary's. What the release didn't say is that the president, and the vice president, paid a dramatically lower portion of their incomes in Social Security tax than the secretary.

According to the release, Obama's secretary would have paid Social Security on all of her salary; the president would have paid it on about a fourth of his salary; and the vice president would have paid the tax on less than half of his salary. Obama is fighting with Republicans to raise income taxes on the very rich; however, he appears to be in complete agreement with Republicans on the Social Security tax - none of these well-paid politicians seem to be interested in eliminating the cap on wages subject to Social Security tax.

If Obama is interested in tax equity, he should stop ignoring this most regressive of all federal taxes.

Jerry Stephens, Riverview

* * *

Legislative menu: turkey - April 14

List missed a big turkey

Florida TaxWatch has not included the proposed 12th university to be located in Polk County on its 2012 list of legislative appropriation turkeys (pork barrel projects). By any objective measure, this omission has made the Florida TaxWatch name an oxymoron. There is no way this new university proposal can be justified, and it will cause an unjust burden for the taxpayers and further drive up students' expenses.

Apparently the Florida TaxWatch staff did not realize was how this omission would damage their credibility. Their explanation lacks common sense, and they should re-evaluate their position. Just because an appropriation passes through the legislative process does not automatically preclude it from being a financial turkey.

Roger H. Wilson, Seminole

* * *

The road to nowhere

Florida TaxWatch seems to have overlooked state Sen. JD Alexander's $35 million "road to nowhere." Perhaps they are not "watching" closely enough. How could they think this is a worthwhile budget item, or are they just they just following the Republican lead?

Rich Gurczinski, St. Petersburg

* * *

Baboons take step toward reading - April 13

Educate children, not apes

What a slap in the face to our educators. Don't spend any of my tax dollars on this project.

Our teachers are taking money out of their own pockets to help educate our children because of inadequate funding for our schools. Teachers invest an inordinate amount of time on revenue-generating projects during the school year on their own free time. This money is spent to help educate our children, again because of inadequate funding from the government.

This baboon project is totally backwards. Can anyone explain why a baboon needs to learn how to read? Our children are our future - not baboons.

Judy Lavaron, St. Petersburg

* * *

Campaign 2012

Attack problems, not people

I know it is a pipe dream, but wouldn't it be productive if rather than attacking each other the candidates attacked the critical issues facing our country?

Could they not spend the next months articulating how they would approach solving our problems - lack of jobs, crumbling infrastructure, pointless wars, tax reform, etc.? This I would listen to. The other, I'll ignore.

Sandy Ericson, Clearwater

* * *

Titanic

Claim sinks under scrutiny

With all the recent attention on the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, one significant fact should be clarified.

Neither builders nor owners ever made the claim that the ship was "unsinkable." Marine engineers at the beginning of the 20th century were not naive, and understood that whenever 88,000 tons of steel is placed on water, it can indeed sink. They correctly proclaimed it "nearly unsinkable."

Following the disaster, it made for good press to proclaim that an unsinkable ship had sunk on its maiden voyage, meaning it was headline writers who instigated the claim that survives to this day.

Ed Golly, Tampa

* * *

Affordable Care Act

Welcome tax relief

For the first time ever as a small business owner, I am getting some tax relief for providing health insurance to my employees. Because of the Affordable Care Act, we have received a $13,000 tax credit over the past two years.

It is still not easy being a small business in today's economy. Being able to stay competitive and hire quality employees is critical. Offering health insurance is such an important way to show employees that we care about their well-being. This tax season, I am grateful.

Dr. Hansel Leavengood, Tampa

* * *

Romney focuses on future in speech at NRA gathering - April 14

This isn't the Wild West

It continues to be a disappointment that politicians choose lobbyists over the people. On the one hand Mitt Romney is letting the NRA know that he will support unbridled gun ownership. In the same day's paper there are three stories on gun violence and death, plus the Trayvon Martin case.

Two of these tragedies are not the result of criminals on the loose, and two are the result of the lax gun laws. I am not in favor of a Wild West mentality when I walk out of my door and will vote accordingly.

Diane Pearson, Dunedin

* * *

U.S., Canada alone in Cuba stance - April 15

Policy overdue for a change

It would be great if President Barack Obama's lecturing by the Western Hemisphere leaders regarding Washington's continuing Cold War policy of isolating Cuba would finally bring about change to that policy, but since this is an election year with both parties desperately courting the Hispanic vote, don't hold your breath.

It would make me proud to see some of our leaders show some guts and make a difference by hitting this idea of change out of the park.

J. Larry McElveen, Safety Harbor

* * *

Tough call on reservoir - April 12

Calling legal aid

Every few days we citizens learn that we're on the hook for still more money because of poorly written contracts - the latest being Pat Bean's legal fees and the repairs to the reservoir.

Who are these lawyers who can't even write a decent contract? There's an ad on TV for software that will compose legal documents, including contracts. It seems Hillsborough County and Tampa Bay Water ought to spend the $39.95 and buy it.

David Brown, Sun City Center

LOAD-DATE: April 18, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

DOCUMENT-TYPE: LETTER

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The Associated Press

April 19, 2012 Thursday 09:44 PM GMT

Campaign commercials give hint of ad war to come

BYLINE: By BETH FOUHY, Associated Press

SECTION: POLITICAL NEWS

LENGTH: 1025 words

DATELINE: NEW YORK

Get ready. The presidential ad campaign coming to a TV and radio near you is going to be nasty, expensive and heavily influenced by independent groups, particularly those that favor Republican Mitt Romney over Democrat Barack Obama.

Commercials airing in a handful of states offer a preview of what's to come.

"Mitt Romney stood with big oil, for their tax breaks," Obama's campaign says in an ad already running in six general election battleground states.

"No matter how Obama spins it, gas costs too much. Tell Obama, stop blaming others," the Republican-leaning group Crossroads GPS says in its latest ad, also airing in swing states.

The scorching ads that helped define the GOP nominating contest have yielded to the early stages of what will be an epic air battle between Romney and Obama as they scramble to define in the most unflattering terms and bring each other down. The emergence of outside groups known as super PACs is all but certain to ratchet up the negativity, adding a level of slash-and-burn rhetoric to the campaign that the candidates themselves might seek to avoid.

"The 2012 Republican primary was by far the most negative we've seen and my expectation will be that the 2012 general election will be one of the most negative in history," said William Benoit, who studies campaign advertising at Ohio University. "The super PAC ads will make it even more so."

Super PACs were borne from a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision easing campaign finance restrictions on corporations and wealthy people. Republican-leaning groups were very active in the 2010 contest, helping to wrest the House from Democratic control and picking up six Republican Senate seats.

The proliferation of super PACs and expected closeness of the Obama-Romney contest guarantee a TV ad rivalry much different than what voters saw in 2008, when Obama's campaign opted out of public financing and the state by state spending limits such financing requires. That decision allowed Obama to bury Republican Sen. John McCain beneath some $244 million worth of ads a roughly a 4-to-1 spending advantage for Obama.

This cycle, that figure is likely to be swamped by spending by American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS alone. The sister groups, both tied to President George W. Bush's longtime political director Karl Rove and largely financed by a handful of wealthy businessmen, have announced plans to pour as much as $300 million into attack ads against Obama and other Democrats.

Romney turned down public financing for the primary campaign and is expected to do the same for the general election, as is Obama. That clears the way for a full-fledged ad war between the two campaigns, amplified by ads from super PACs.

The Obama campaign has already spent about $2 million on its ad this month in Iowa, Ohio, Colorado, Virginia, Florida and Nevada, according several media buyers who provided information to The Associated Press. Crossroads isn't far behind, having spent $1.8 million on its ad in the six states.

Crossroads' spokesman, Jonathan Collegio, said the group's current role is in part to fill the gap for Romney's campaign as it raises the money it needs for the campaign against Obama.

Collegio said the months between the primaries and the political conventions is a critical period where an outside group can provide "air cover" while a candidate regroups.

Romney's campaign spent $18.1 on ads during the primary campaign but has gone dark since rival Rick Santorum suspended his campaign last week. Records show the campaign has not yet bought any television time to begin running ads again.

Restore Our Future, a pro-Romney super PAC founded by a team of his former aides, will have significant role in the general election. It was by far the most influential player in the Republican nominating contest, responsible for $36 million of the $100 million total that was spent on ads, according to the Smart Media Group, which tracks campaign spending.

Carl Forti, a founder of Restore Our Future and its spokesman, predicted that as many as 20 Republican-leaning super PACs would seek to oust Obama and would work together to figure out how to gain maximum traction from their ads.

"The outside groups are at our best when we do coordinate," said Forti, who was the political director for Romney's failed 2008 presidential bid and has been a Crossroads strategist since 2010. "We did so in the 2010 cycle and I expect and hope we will be able to coordinate again."

At least one super PAC backing Obama's re-election has been on the air attacking Romney.

Priorities USA Action, founded by two former Obama White House aides, went up with a new ad this week in Florida, Iowa, Ohio and Virginia depicting Romney as a heartless businessman who would cut benefits for the middle class to give tax cuts to the wealthy as president.

"Mitt Romney. If he wins, we lose," the ad says.

Still, Priorities is spending just under $700,000 on the current ad buy, reflecting the group's significant fundraising disadvantage compared to Republican-leaning groups. Priorities and its affiliated nonprofit group have raised just $10 million since last year, while American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS together have raised more than $100 million since 2010.

Priorities founder Bill Burton insists the group's fundraising has picked up and will provide a counterbalance to Republican super PAC ads.

"People are starting to see the right-wing money machine is raising a ton of money. President Obama's re-election is in doubt. People are really starting to turn in a way they hadn't before," Burton said.

The presidential campaigns and most super PACs have a midnight Friday deadline to disclose their March fundraising totals.

It's unclear whether other pro-Obama groups will run ads supporting his re-election. While labor unions have run ads supporting Obama and other Democratic candidates in past elections, AFL-CIO political spokesman Jeff Hauser said the labor federation planned to devote its resources to field organizing rather than television.

Associated Press writer Jack Gillum in Washington contributed to this report.

Follow Beth Fouhy on Twitter: http:// www.twitter.com/bfouhy

LOAD-DATE: April 20, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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The Chronicle: Hofstra University

April 19, 2012 Thursday

Armchair Observations: A Humor Column

BYLINE: Matt Napolitano

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 1

LENGTH: 617 words

I don't care what anyone says, SNL has drastically improved over the past two or three years. I find myself DVRing the show and watching it on Sunday afternoon (I'm 21 and it's Saturday night, I have a life) and actually getting some solid laughs.

Last week, Saturday Night Live announced the next new episode would be May 5th. The host: Super Bowl champion quarterback Eli Manning.

That's right, Eli is once again following in his big brother's footsteps and taking the stage at Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center. SNL has a great legacy of athletes hosting their show from Derek Jeter's Taco Hole to Charles Barkley's Donkey Basketball Camp. From Shaq taking a spanking from Tracy Morgan to Joe Montana being chastised by the Church Lady, athletes tend to bring their A-game to sketch comedy.

So once I found out about the Elite One getting a shot at SNL, I started thinking of possible sketches to make Manning look like a champ in late night TV.

COLD OPEN: Sorry, Eli, not really common for the host to be in the opening sketch. Plus, I really don't see a man whose IQ has repeatedly come into question by Giants fans holding his own in a sketch about Mitt Romney or President Obama or whatever political shenanigans are going on.

OPENING MONOLOGUE: Since Peyton has hosted before, it just reignites the sibling rivalry we've seen in Oreo and ESPN commercials. Eli may have two Super Bowl rings, but many will argue Peyton is the better overall quarterback, which brings the idea of a rousing rendition of "Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better" between the two brothers, and maybe Cooper Manning can contribute a little as well. Ah, brotherly love.

TEBOWMANIA: Eli just won his second Super Bowl, but he's not the media darling quarterback of New York. That title belongs to Gang Green's new backup Tim Tebow. After his short-lived enjoyment of the spotlight, Eli goes on a quest to make the headlines again. He brokers peace talks with Syria. He helps to lower the unemployment rate. He finds the body of Jimmy Hoffa. However, he still finds the top story of the evening is the messiah Tebow eating a calzone or finding a penny on 6th Avenue. Poor Eli, can't catch a break.

MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER: Eli knows how to win, so why not have him show people how to be elite? Have him give a speech on the ways of winning to a high school or a college team. Sex, drugs and alcohol. That's the key to a championship and a key to being a loved sports figure in New York. I'm Joe Namath and I approve this message.

BATTLESHIP: Rihanna will be the musical guest that night and she actually has a movie coming out, "Battleship". That's right, they are making a movie off the board game, Battleship. C-7... D-4... F-3... THIS MOVIE IS GOING TO BE A MISS! Regardless, I think a great SNL digital short would feature Rihanna and Eli in an intense game of Battleship. Throw in Andy Samberg as a commentator for good measure. Should be worth a chuckle.

WEEKEND UPDATE: Point-counterpoint. Seth Meyers, Weekend Update anchor and notoriously lover of Boston sports, versus Eli Manning in a Giants-Patriots debate. Guest cameos by Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul. Hey, I'm down with JPP, yeah, you know me.

CINCO DE MAYO: Eli Manning as a frat guy making bad decisions on Cinco De Mayo. Bueno!

OREO COMMERCIAL: Eli and Peyton back together to shoot an Oreo ad with different athletes and celebrities. Who doesn't want to see Ryan Leaf endorse sandwich cookies? No one? Well, there's other sports figures in the news worth sponsoring Nabisco.

End of show. Oh, and all of these are copyrighted, but if anybody using this as a tablecloth right now knows anyone at NBC, I am graduating and I need to pay off the arm and leg I owe Hofstra.

LOAD-DATE: September 18, 2013

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

University Wire
Copyright 2012 UWIRE via U-Wire
All Rights Reserved

126 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 19, 2012 Thursday 10:53 PM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 4399 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Maggie Leung -- 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

New-York-Etan-Patz-Investigation (Will update)

More than three decades after a 6-year-old boy disappeared on his way to a bus stop in New York City, police and federal investigators relaunched their search for him Thursday, scouring the basement of a commercial building in Lower Manhattan. It is a largely unexplained development in a milestone case that helped draw the plight of missing children into the national consciousness.

Florida-Teen-Shooting (Will update) George Zimmerman will be in a central Florida courtroom Friday morning for a bond hearing in the Trayvon Martin shooting case. The attorney for Zimmerman, charged with second-degree murder, has previously indicated concerns for his client's safety.

Florida-Stand-Your-Ground

Florida authorities have picked 17 people to tackle a heated question brought on by the killing of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin: whether the state's "stand your ground law" should be changed.

Gulf-Aircraft-Search (Will update)

A small plane with an unresponsive pilot sank in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday after circling above the ocean for more than two hours, then crashing, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.

US-Afghanistan-Helicopter-Crash (Will update)

A Black Hawk helicopter crashed Thursday in southern Afghanistan, likely killing all four of its crew members -- all of them Americans -- a U.S. military official said.

US-Secret-Service (Will update)

More Secret Service resignations are expected soon in the wake of an alleged prostitution scandal in Colombia, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee told CNN.

POL-Nugent-Secret-Service (Will update)

Ted Nugent, the rocker whose comments about President Barack Obama have come under scrutiny, was interviewed by agents with the Secret Service Thursday, according to a statement from the entertainer.

Venezuela-Ex-Judge

Venezuela's judges make decisions based on instructions from President Hugo Chavez's government rather than the rule of law, a former top justice who fled the country said. Eladio Aponte Aponte, who was a Supreme Court justice until the Venezuelan government accused him of connections with an alleged drug trafficker last month, described what he said is a corrupt justice system in which Chavez and other top officials influence rulings, pushing judges to convict political prisoners or overlook certain allegations.

Syria-Unrest (Will update)

The international sense of urgency over the Syrian crisis grew on Thursday, with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling for an arms embargo and other tough U.N. Security Council steps against the Bashar al-Assad regime.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

INTERNATIONAL

Syria-Unrest

POL-US-Syria-Diplomacy

The United States military is continuing to plan for various military options for Syria, but U.S. and international diplomatic efforts will remain the primary effort to pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his government to step aside, the top Pentagon leadership told a congressional panel on Thursday.

US-Afghanistan-Helicopter-Crash

A Black Hawk helicopter crashed Thursday in southern Afghanistan, likely killing all four of its crew members -- all of them Americans -- a U.S. military official said.

US-Obama-Holocaust-Remembrance

President Barack Obama released a statement on Thursday honoring the Jewish day of remembrance Yom HaShoah. Hebrew for "destruction," the word "shoah" is often used in reference to the Holocaust, and Yom HaShoah is the day on the Jewish calendar commemorating the 6 million Jews who died at the hands of Nazi Germany.

Afghanistan-Troops-Photos

Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned photos of U.S. soldiers posing with bodies of suspected insurgents as he called Thursday for "an accelerated and full transition of security responsibilities to Afghan forces."

Libya-Saif-Gadhafi-Trial

Libyan prosecutors have gathered "great evidence" against the son of former dictator Moammar Gadhafi, International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said Thursday, re-opening the controversial question of where Saif al-Islam Gadhafi will be tried.

Yemen-US-Strikes

The increased pace of counterterrorism strikes in Yemen by U.S. drones and aircraft is a result of what U.S. military and intelligence officials describe as improved intelligence about the leadership of the al Qaeda movement in that country.

UK-Girl-Shot-Sentencing

Three men convicted in a London gang shooting that left a little girl paralyzed were sentenced to life in prison Thursday, the Metropolitan Police said.

UK-Hacking-Arrests

Media magnate Rupert Murdoch will appear next week before the independent British inquiry into journalistic ethics prompted by phone hacking at his defunct News of the World tabloid, the investigators said Thursday.

Norway-Breivik-Trial

Anders Behring Breivik, who admits killing 77 people in Norway last summer, was trying to kill the prime minister and other government ministers by bombing a building in Oslo, he testified Thursday.

Sudans-Conflict

The Sudanese president on Thursday vowed to "never give up" a disputed oil-rich region that has escalated tensions with South Sudan and sparked fears of the two neighbors' return to war.

Iraq-Violence

A series of explosions rocked Baghdad on Thursday morning, killing at least 31 people and leaving more than 50 others injured, Iraq's interior ministry said.

South-Korea-China-Fisherman

A South Korean court on Thursday sentenced the captain of a Chinese fishing boat to 30 years in prison for killing a South Korean coast guard commando during a confrontation in the Yellow Sea.

Venezuela-Ex-Judge

Venezuela's judges make decisions based on instructions from the country's government rather than the rule of law, a former top justice who fled the South American nation said.

India-Missile

India said Thursday that it had successfully carried out the maiden test flight of its longest-range nuclear-capable missile, which can apparently travel more than 5,000 kilometers.

Pakistan-Bin-Laden-Family

Pakistan says it is liaising with the governments of Yemen and Saudi Arabia before it decides when to deport several of Osama bin Laden's family members of back to their homelands. The court-ordered detention of the three widows and two daughters of the terrorist mastermind ended Tuesday night.

Bahrain-Unrest

Bahrain authorities arrested demonstrators Wednesday as they tried to "disrupt public and private interests" ahead of this weekend's Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, state media reported.

SPORT-Motorsport-Bahrain-India-bomb

Two members of Force India's Formula One team have left Bahrain after a petrol bomb was thrown at one of the marque's cars during an anti-government protest.

China-Mongolians-Culture

Ethnic Mongolians in China are concerned about cultural threat.

MONEY-Beef-Trade-India

The growing beef trade has hit India's sacred cow.

MONEY-Argentina-Energy-Takeover

Argentina's government announced a brazen takeover of the country's largest energy company this week, potentially quashing a domestic shale gas boom.

MONEY-Ecb-Euro-Financing

The European Central Bank pulled out all the stops to prevent a credit crunch by providing banks with (EURO)1 trillion in ultra-low cost financing.

MONEY-Spanish-Bond-Auction

Spain's bond auction met with decent demand on Thursday, but failed to keep yields in check or to inspire the global financial markets.

SPORT-Football-Europa-Atletico-Sporting

Two goals from Colombian striker Falcao put Atletico Madrid in the driving seat as they defeated fellow Spanish side Valencia 4-2 in the first leg of their Europa League semifinal.

SPORT-Golf-Guan-China-Open

He became the youngest player in European Tour golf history after teeing off at the China Open and Guan Tian-Lang's record-breaking round was below par -- but not in a good way.

SPORT-football-morosini-funeral-italy

Thousands of mourners descended on a suburban church in northern Italy on Thursday for the funeral of footballer Piermario Morosini, who died after collapsing on the pitch last week.

U.S.A.

Florida-Teen-Shooting

Florida authorities have picked 17 people to tackle a heated question brought on by the killing of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin: whether the state's "stand your ground law" should be changed.

New-York-Etan-Patz-Investigation

New-York-Terror-Trial

A confessed terror plotter calmly told a jury how he acquired the ingredients to make bombs he and his co-conspirators hoped would blast through New York subway trains during rush hour.

New-York-Emergency-Landing

A Delta Air Lines flight made an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Thursday afternoon after encountering an engine problem -- possibly because of a bird strike -- shortly after takeoff, a Delta spokesman said.

North-Carolina-Soldier

Police seeking a missing Fort Bragg soldier Thursday concluded their search of a pond northeast of Fayetteville, North Carolina, saying no new leads were developed from the effort.

Washington-Powell-Case

A letter of reprimand was sent to the 911 operator who handled the emergency call from a social worker seeking help as Josh Powell killed his sons and himself in his Graham, Washington, home in February.

Texas-Cockfight-Shooting

Gunmen opened fire at an illegal cockfighting ring in southern Texas early Thursday morning, killing three people and wounding at least eight, the Hidalgo County sheriff's office told CNN.

Oregon-Airport-Naked-Protest

John Brennan says he did not go to the Portland International Airport intending to get naked. But after feeling harassed by airport screeners Tuesday, the 50-year-old Portland, Oregon, man stripped off his clothes in a protest that brought him even more attention from airport authorities, national headlines and a short stint in jail.

California-Marine-Wife-Dead

A body found Tuesday in California is that of Brittany Killgore, the missing wife of a deployed Marine, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said Wednesday.

US-Secret-Service

More Secret Service resignations are expected Thursday or Friday in the wake of an alleged prostitution scandal in Colombia, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee told CNN.

US-Secret-Service-Sullivan

"Worthy of trust and confidence" is the motto of the almost 150-year-old U.S. Secret Service, and Director Mark Sullivan now faces the dual task of proving it true and keeping his job. Sullivan, a Secret Service veteran for almost three decades who was sworn in as director on May 31, 2006, is the focus of demands by the White House and Congress -- and a perplexed American public -- to figure out exactly what happened.

US-Terrorism-Women

Women are increasingly being used to carry out terrorist attacks and raise money to support terrorist actions, but on the flip side, more policy makers are waking up to the fact that women can also be an extremely effective tool in combating the spread of terrorism.

US-Gulf-Aircraft-Search

A small plane with an unresponsive pilot crashed in the central Gulf of Mexico Thursday after circling above the ocean for several hours, a Coast Guard spokesman said.

US-Bieber-Imposter-Sex-Abuse

A Canadian man has been arrested, accused of coercing a 12-year-old girl to perform sex acts online by pretending to be pop star Justin Bieber.

SPORT-Pat-Summitt-Award

Former University of Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt got some unexpected news just before meeting with the media to discuss her retirement Thursday. President Barack Obama announced that she will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award handed out by the government.

MED-Health-Insurance-Gap

The fate of health care reform legislation is still up in the air, resting with the U.S. Supreme Court, which is expected to rule on the law's constitutionality in late June. But today's news about health insurance isn't about the justices; it's about the people who had gaps in coverage in 2011. The Commonwealth Fund Health Insurance Tracking Survey of U.S. Adults found that 26% of Americans had a hole in their health insurance coverage in 2011. That would equate to about 48 million people who were uninsured at some point during the year, the Commonwealth Fund said.

MED-measles-cases-rise

Back in 2000 measles was eliminated from the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But now a new CDC study tells us there were 17 outbreaks and 222 cases of the highly infectious disease reported in 2011.

MONEY-Short-Sale-Rise

Short sales are rising sharply, offering many struggling homeowners a better alternative to foreclosure in many of the nation's hardest hit states. In short sale deals, the sale price of the home is less than what the seller owes. Often, the bank that holds the mortgage takes so long to approve the sale that the deal falls through. But in recent months, the pace of short sales has increased, a trend that should gain momentum, according to RealtyTrac.

MONEY-Stocks

Stocks finished lower Thursday, as a trifecta of downbeat U.S. economic reports overshadowed encouraging signs out of corporate America and Europe.

MONEY-Microsoft-Earnings

Microsoft's sales growth for Xbox and Kinect slowed sharply last quarter, but other sectors like Windows helped the company post earnings that beat analysts' estimates.

MONEY-Splunk-Tumi-Ipo

Shares of software firm Splunk and luggage-maker Tumi shot up Thursday in their first day of trading, continuing the recent run of successful IPOs.

MONEY-Chesapeake-Energy

Shares of Chesapeake Energy remained under pressure Thursday, a day after Reuters reported that the company's chief executive has been taking out personal loans to finance stakes in the company's wells, and using those same stakes as collateral for additional loans.

MONEY-Morgan-Stanley-Earnings

Morgan Stanley reported better-than-expected quarterly results Thursday helped by a steep run up in its stock and bond trading activity.

MONEY-Sprint-Tax-Fraud-Lawsuit

New York's attorney general filed a tax fraud lawsuit against Sprint Nextel on Thursday, accusing the wireless carrier of intentionally underpaying sales tax in the state for seven years.

MONEY-Ceo-Pay

Chief executives at some of the nation's largest companies earned an average of $12.9 million in total pay last year -- 380 times more than a typical American worker, according to the AFL-CIO.

MONEY-Credit-Cards-Bad-Credit

Credit card issuers are ramping up lending to consumers with poor credit. But borrowers beware: The terms aren't always going to be good.

MONEY-Short-Sales

The Federal Housing Finance Agency laid out new rules aimed at speeding up the short sale process, a move that could keep many homes from falling into foreclosure.

MONEY-Home-Sales

The housing market continued to struggle in March, with sales of existing homes falling 2.6% compared with a month earlier, according to an industry report issued Thursday.

MONEY-Gas-Prices-AAA

The price of an average gallon of regular gasoline dropped below $3.90 on Thursday.

MONEY-Economists-Recovery

The recovery is still chugging along at a sluggish pace, and unfortunately, it looks like it may stay that way for a while.

MONEY-Jobless-Claims

The number of people filing for unemployment benefits last week fell slightly, but was still much higher than expected.

MONEY-Women-Jobs

More jobless Americans are finding work these days, but they are mainly lucky fellas.

POL-House-Tax-Vote

The GOP-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday passed a $46 billion small business tax cut bill -- an election year measure that has virtually no chance of clearing the Democratic-controlled Senate or surviving a presidential veto.

POL-Keystone-Pipeline

A proposed new route through Nebraska for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline will require six to nine months of review under the normal process conducted by state and federal officials, a Nebraska official said Thursday.

POL-Nugent-Secret-Service

Ted Nugent, the rocker whose comments about President Barack Obama have come under scrutiny, was interviewed by agents with the Secret Service Thursday, according to a statement from the entertainer.

POL-US-Senators-Kony

On the eve of a day of action aimed at an African militia leader, a bipartisan group of senators is inviting Americans to sign on as co-sponsors of legislation condemning Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army.

ELECTION 2012

POL-Arizona-RNC-Gathering

Not too long ago, it appeared this week's meeting of the Republican National Committee in Arizona might be consumed with squabbles. Instead, it's looking more and more like a Mitt Romney pep rally in the making.

POL-NBC-Poll-Romney

A new national poll offers more evidence that now Mitt Romney's pretty much wrapped up the race for Republican nomination, public opinion of GOP presidential candidate is on the rise. But Romney still lags behind President Barack Obama. According to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey released Thursday, 33% see Romney positively, with 36% viewing the former Massachusetts governor in a negative light. That's better than Romney rated the NBC/WSJ March poll, when he had a 28% positive rating and a 39% negative rating.

POL-Romney-Ohio-Endorsements

Mitt Romney on Thursday announced the endorsement of Ohio governor John Kasich and the state's lieutenant governor, Mary Taylor.

POL-Rubio-VP-Immigration

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida put his foot down once again Thursday, firmly denying he would accept an offer from Mitt Romney to join the GOP ticket and floated another name for the spot instead.

POL-Romney-Obama-Response

Mitt Romney on Thursday responded to President Barack Obama's "silver spoon" comment by highlighting his father's rags to riches storyline.

POL-Romney-Obama-Ohio

Visiting a closed Ohio drywall factory Thursday, Mitt Romney seized on the plant's years-long shuttering to hammer home the point spelled out on a banner hanging over his head: "Obama Isn't Working."

POL-Obama-Clooney-Fundraiser

For those who have always dreamed of an evening with George Clooney, the president may have the hook up - that is, if you donate to his campaign. President Barack Obama's re-election team is offering a chance for two supporters to attend a fundraiser with the president and Clooney at the actor's pad in Los Angeles.

POL-DSCC-Fundraising

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee brought in nearly $18 million in the first quarter of 2012, marking the fundraising arm's most successful quarter, according to the group.

POL-NRSC-Fundraising

The National Republican Senatorial Committee raised $5.76 million in March, bringing its first quarter haul to $15 million, the group announced Thursday.

POL-Hatch-Utah-Senate

Two years after Republican Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah was defeated in his bid for renomination at the GOP's state convention, Sen. Orrin Hatch faces the same test.

FEATURES

ENT-Obit-Levon-Helm

Levon Helm, the drummer, multi-instrumentalist and singer for The Band who kept the band's heart for more than three decades, died "peacefully" Thursday afternoon, according to his record label, Vanguard Records. He was 71.

ENT-Desperate-Housewives-Retrial

Actress Nicollette Sheridan's wrongful termination lawsuit against the studio that produces "Desperate Housewives" will be retried in September, a Los Angeles judge ordered this week.

ENT-Dick-Clark-Death

He was one of the most recognizable and influential voices in rock n' roll, and he never sang a note. So in the wake of Dick Clark's death, Americans of all stripes -- including music icons -- shared memories throughout the night and into Thursday.

ENT-dick-clark-business-influence-legacy

Dick Clark was a businessman first, an entertainment talent second, producing more than 7,000 hours of TV programming.

ENT-Kevin-Hart-Interview

Do not try and tell Kevin Hart that he's a scene-stealer in his new film, "Think Like A Man." Despite the many ribald, laugh-out-loud moments his character has in the movie - which is based on the best-selling relationship guide for women by "Family Feud" host Steve Harvey - Hart insists it was a collaborative effort.

ENT-Murphy-Brown-Throwback

Ten years, 247 episodes and 93 assistants later, "Murphy Brown" remains beloved to this day. At last weekend's TV Land Awards, which will air on April 29, the series received the coveted Impact Award.

ENT-Kardashian-Mayoral-Run

Don't print up the official stationary yet, but reality star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian has designs on political office. More specifically, she'd like to be the mayor of Glendale, California.

War-Digital-Media

The unfiltered nature of new media in the 21st century war has created a string of controversies for the U.S. military all the way up to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.

TECH-Games-Violence-Norway-React

Norway's alleged mass killer testified on Thursday that he played video games as a way to train for a shooting spree that killed 77 people last summer. In particular, Anders Behring Breivik said at his trial that he played "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" as a means of shooting practice, according to CNN's report. Bloggers, columnists are quick to say violent video games don't induce violent behavior, however.

FEA-cnnheroes-lecroy-robinson-peete

For the last decade, Carolyn LeCroy has been helping children stay connected to their incarcerated parents through video messages. LeCroy was honored as a CNN Hero in 2008, and has since expanded her Messages Project to prisons in five states.

FEA-steampunk-festival

Where past meets present meets future: My weekend with the steampunks

FEA-ireport-prom-photos

Cecelia Owens just couldn't bear to get rid of the photo of her and the young man whose heart she broke a few months after junior prom. She kept their prom picture in a box in a closet and rarely looked at it. She disliked her date's "horrible" suit and the fact that the photographer made her look "like a china doll," as she sat while he stood. Still, she couldn't part with the young man in that ugly suit. "Several times over the years, I moved and packed up and ran across the picture and thought 'I can't get rid of it,'" said Owens, 47. "I thought maybe I'll see him again one day and we can share that memory." Corsages and tokens from prom night eventually fade, but images are indelible snapshots of the way we were, one of the few keepsakes mostly unchanged in generations. In an era when the average prom night costs north of $1,000 and dress codes complicate the perfect outfit, the power of the prom photo remains timeless. Beyond projecting personal style, they reflect socioeconomic and cultural values from an American rite of passage, documentary photographer Mary Ellen Mark said.

US-time-100-undocumented-latina

This week Time Magazine released its 100 Most Influential People in the World list. Among the presidents, CEOs and entertainers was a 27-year-old activist and undocumented Latina, Dulce Matuz. Matuz has become a public face of undocumented students. She organizes protests and has been arrested. CNN.com profiled Matuz last year as part of its coverage leading up to the documentary "Don't Fail Me: Education In America."

US-Education-The-new-graduation-rates

The District of Columbia's 2011 high school graduation rate is down 20 percentage points from 2010. Utah's rate dropped from 90% in 2010 to 75% in 2011 - 15 percentage points. And Georgia's 2011 rate dropped 13 points from the year before. These significant drops aren't because of performance. It's all in the math. States are changing the way they figure out graduation rates.

US-gorilla-heart-mystery

"Good. Hold," said great ape keeper Amanda Bania to the 200-pound gorilla Kojo as she held what looked like a computer mouse to his back. The western lowland gorilla leaned his back against his cage at the National Zoo in Washington while being hand fed grapes by zookeeper Elliot Rosenthal.

MONEY-corruption-africa-technology

Students asked to fork out thousands of Kenyan shillings for a bursary; drivers pushed to pay police officers for traffic offences; people asked to shell out large sums to speed up the process of getting a new passport or making a land transfer. These are just some of the most common reports of bribery that can be found in ipaidabribe.or.ke, a recently-launched website dedicated to battling rampant public corruption in Kenya and uncovering its economic impact.

SPORT-Tennis-Titanic-Survivors-Olympics

When one of the Titanic's four giant funnels collapsed, Dick Williams saw his father Charles killed in front of him. Grief stricken but with his survival instinct still intact, the 21-year-old dived into the icy waters of the Atlantic to take his chances and swim for his life.

TRAVEL-zulu-kingdom-travel-guide

Spread across a 600-kilometer stretch of South Africa's east coast, the former Zulu Kingdom boasts one of sub-Saharan Africa's most eclectic blends of wildlife, history and culture. Largely contained today within the province of KwaZulu-Natal, the Kingdom's historical borders offer the adventure-minded traveler everything from traditional Zulu ceremonies to spectacular safaris, and a remarkably diverse array of scenic beauty. Here is CNN's guide to exploring this unique region.

MED-feeding-tube-diet

A doctor says his diet involves inserting a feeding tube into a patient's nose into the stomach. A bioethicist at the University of Pennsylvania, describes this diet as "stupid" and "outrageous."

COMMENTARY-daschle-elect

Nathan Daschle says Americans have long had two choices: Democrat or Republican. But he says Americans Elect allows them to pick a third presidential ticket in online "convention."

COMMENTARY-Preston-Holocaust-Legacy

A Holocaust saga: From the sewers to a garden.

COMMENTARY-Kilian-oil-speculation

High gas prices are likely to stay.

COMMENTARY-navarrette-latino

Latino, Hispanic labels don't matter; issues do.

COMMENTARY-France-Election-Social

French candidates bank on social media.

LOAD-DATE: April 20, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

127 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

Contra Costa Times (California)

April 19, 2012 Thursday

Letters to the Editor

BYLINE: Times Herald

SECTION: MY TOWN; Alameda; News; Local

LENGTH: 1143 words

Want birth control? Buy it yourself

From a letter you published on April 6: "Don't like contraception? Don't use it. Don't like abortion? Don't have one." OK, but don't make me pay for your use of it.

I believe President Barack Obama is wrong to require Catholics to pay for your use of those services. According to its statements, the Catholic Church objects to Obama's mandate forcing it to pay for health insurance coverage that includes contraception, abortion-causing drugs and sterilizations.

"Keep your religious beliefs between your church and yourself." I'm sorry, but that statement is silly. If the religious beliefs of Catholics don't impact how they spend their money, then those beliefs don't really exist. If the church believes that messing up a normally functioning human reproductive system with drugs is wrong, then that belief darn well better affect how the church spends its money. And that includes how money is spent on health insurance.

David Hipple

Livermore

Birth control uproar just a smoke-screen

Who should pay the cost ($9 per month at Target and Walmart in the D.C. area) for birth control pills? That issue apparently has risen to the same level of importance (or higher) as immigration reform, clean energy, the debt ceiling, Afghanistan, etc., in light of the attention it has been given recently by some members of Congress and the president.

Common sense says that this should be an item for the individual budget, cheaper than a month's supply of coffee from Starbucks and bottled water from Safeway. Instead, it appears to have a politically contrived "war on women" issue. Disgusting! At least Rush Limbaugh had the decency to apologize for the equally disgusting remarks about a Georgetown Law School student's testimony at a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing that someone else should pay for her and her fellow cash-strapped students' laudable desires to have birth-control sex. Free condoms? Not a politically useful issue!

Walter D. Harvey

Livermore

ObamaCare critics just don't like president

This is an open opinion to all those who are against ObamaCare.

Those opposed have not done their homework. We pay for the uninsured no matter which way we go. If ObamaCare is ruled "unconstitutional" and overturned, we are still paying and have been for years for all those who have no insurance. In order for a hospital to operate and receive its license from the state, it must agree to the attorney general to support and care for all uninsured citizens (legal or illegal) coming through their doors. Therefore, our taxes have been paying for the uninsured all along -- so what is the issue? This seems to me not to be a health care issue but an underlying dislike for our president.

Patricia Sweeney

Pleasanton

Romney, not Obama, to lose Nov. 6 election

A letter writer from Lafayette says "bet the ranch" our next presidential election will be a "blowout."

He wants to blame President Barack Obama for the United States' setbacks now under way and says Obama is playing the race card. Well, I say Mitt Romney is trying to buy the election just like Meg Whitman tried here in California, and it will backfire. The real racists are Rush Limbaugh and others like him, who have been attacking Obama since he took office. Yes, I am white.

Dwaine Johnson

Livermore

For-profit health care is simply wrong

Americans claim we have the best health care delivery system on the planet.

That may be true if you have a team of lawyers watching your back but, in our country, medicine is guided by the profit motive. We cannot be sure whether our doctors prescribe medications because they are good or because they get perks from pharmaceutical reps. Is your doctor prescribing surgery because you truly need it or because he has to quickly fill that surgery room he's already rented when someone else canceled? This happened to me; I was responding to another treatment and they convinced me through heavy pitching on the phone to have surgery before I had time to think about it. Now, I truly am much worse.

Our health care system is riddled with profit-motive traps. You can never truly be certain whether care is given for your good or to line their pockets with loot. And this is really, really scary. As I reflect on my history, every serious health care problem I have began as a result of a doctor maximizing his profits.

As I listen to the squabbles over government-sponsored health care, I have to ask myself how we got so stupid that we didn't, like other intelligent nations, institute single-payer health care for all to protect our citizens from those who are blinded by the profit motive. Profit in medicine is deadly; whether it's from them denying care or whether it's from prescribing care for the wrong reasons.

Paulette Kenyon

Pleasanton

Lab should work on alternative energy solutions

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is known to many Livermore neighbors as a developer of green technology. The lab does some great work researching energy efficiency and developing renewables but not enough.

As a Livermore resident, I would like to see the lab do more with its vast resources. For the lab's 2013 budget, Energy Department officials requested more than $1.1 billion. A staggering 87.7 percent ($987 million) of that budget is to be allocated toward nuclear-weapon activities, while a paltry 0.58 percent ($6.6 million) is designated for renewable energy research.

Channeling more of the Livermore Lab's vast resources toward promoting cleaner, safer and cheaper sources of energy could pave the way for true, long-term energy independence. Part of the Livermore Lab's mission concerns "enhancing the energy and environmental security of the nation." Allocating more money toward that goal would be an investment in the right direction.

Lee Torres

Livermore

Clarifying Buffett Rule for those not clued in

Let's cut out the misleading statements on the Buffet Rule.

Dividends paid by Berkshire Hathaway are not deductible, so have already been taxed, according to Forbes, at 29 percent. When Warren Buffett receives them, he is taxed at 15 percent because the money was already taxed once. Politicians passed that law and many benefit from it.

By the way, when Washington wants to raise taxes on those earning more than $250,000 a year, do lawmakers hope you won't notice the Speaker of the House makes $223,500? Or that rank-and-file senators make $173,000, plus perks?

Can you say "led down the garden path"?

Robert C. Olson, CFP

Pleasanton

Business as usual makes sad news indeed

Here's a news item in the Tri-Valley Times on April 11 buried on page A-9 just above the "Sex For Life" ad: "AFGHANISTAN -- Taliban suicide attackers kill at least 16 people."

Stay tuned for more news about the mass protests, rioting and revenge killings spreading across the country of Afghanistan in response to these killings.

Chip Ungermann

Livermore

LOAD-DATE: October 30, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

128 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CQ Federal Department and Agency Documents
REGULATORY INTELLIGENCE DATA

April 19, 2012 Thursday

INTERVIEW WITH WOLF BLITZER OF CNN

LENGTH: 4039 words

CONTACT: 202-647-2492

QUESTION: Madam Secretary, Mr. Secretary, thanks very much for joining us.

SECRETARY CLINTON: We're glad to be here with you.

QUESTION: Let's talk about Afghanistan briefly - $2 billion a week in U.S. taxpayer dollars being spent to maintain that troop level, the assistance to the Afghan people. Is this money well spent right now, $100 billion a year for another two-and-a-half years?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, first of all, Wolf, we are in a transition, and as we transition, the Afghan security forces are stepping up to protect their own people. And as we saw over the weekend with those deplorable attacks, luckily they were not successful. And that was because the Afghan security forces, which our soldiers and others of the NATO-ISAF alliance have been training and mentoring. So I think that if you look, as we do, at the progress that has been made on the security side but also in other indicators - health and education and the economy - there is definite progress. That doesn't mean it's going to be easy, but we are on the way to fulfilling the commitment that President Obama made about moving toward the 2014 deadline for the end of combat operations.

QUESTION: So this is money well spent, hundreds of billions of additional dollars? Is that what you're saying?

SECRETARY CLINTON: I think you can certainly find fault with any kind of war, and this has been a war. You can go back and look at any of the wars that the United States has fought. But if you consider why we're there and the fact that, thank goodness, we've not been attacked again since 9/11, and we have dismantled al-Qaida thanks to a lot of great work when Leon was at the CIA before going to the Defense Department, I think there's no doubt that America is more secure, Afghanistan is more secure, but we're not resting on our laurels. We're looking forward to what kind of relationship we all will have, NATO and the United States, after 2014 to help Afghanistan continue on this path.

QUESTION: You trust Afghan President, Mr. Secretary, Hamid Karzai?

SECRETARY PANETTA: He is the leader of Afghanistan.

QUESTION: Do you trust him?

SECRETARY PANETTA: (Inaudible.) I mean, I've sat down with him. I talk with him. We talk very frankly with each other. And he is the leader and he is the person we have to deal with.

QUESTION: Does that mean you trust him, though?

SECRETARY PANETTA: Well, I mean, certainly you trust the leaders that you have to deal with, but you always kind of watch your back at the same time.

QUESTION: That doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement of the leader of Afghanistan.

SECRETARY PANETTA: Well, it's true for any leader we deal with.

QUESTION: This one has said awful things about the United States.

SECRETARY PANETTA: No, I understand. And obviously, that's been a concern. But at the same time, we have had the ability to directly relate to him when it comes to some of the major issues that we've had to --

QUESTION: When you served in Congress, you were on the budget committee, as I well remember. Hundred billion dollars, you know what that kind of money can spend in the United States during these tough economic times, and the American public is increasingly frustrated when they see this money is being spent in Afghanistan rather than in the United States.

SECRETARY PANETTA: I understand what you're saying, Wolf, but you know what? The whole purpose of this is to protect the American people. That's what this war is about.

QUESTION: But bin Ladin is dead.

SECRETARY PANETTA: I know, but the reality is that the attack on the United States on 9/11 was planned from where? It was planned from Afghanistan. And our mission there is to make sure that we have an Afghanistan that can secure and govern itself and it never again can become a safe haven for terrorists who would plan attacks on our country. That's what this war is all about.

QUESTION: But you know that U.S. intelligence officials have told Congress there are more al-Qaida operatives in Somalia right now than in Afghanistan.

SECRETARY PANETTA: The danger is this, that if we don't succeed in Afghanistan, then there is the real probability that the Taliban will come back, establish the same kind of safe havens that they have in the past. And who will be the first people to take advantage of it? Al-Qaida. That's what we have to protect against.

QUESTION: Are we asking too much of these American troops who spend three, four, five tours of duty? And now these reports - posing once again with dead bodies of Taliban fighters, urinating on dead bodies, burning Qu'rans. One American soldier starts killing 17 Afghan civilians, including children. Is the stress too much to bear right now on these troops?

SECRETARY PANETTA: Well, there's - look, there's no question we've been 10 years at war. And obviously, 10 years of war takes a toll on people and families. But the reality is that the vast majority of our men and women in uniform have performed according to the highest standards that we expect of them. And for every one incident that we sometimes read about and the kind of atrocious behavior that we all condemn, there are a hundred incidents where our people have helped Afghans or they have performed courageously in battle.

So I've been there a number of times, as has the Secretary. I've got to tell you that I am always impressed by the quality of our people that are fighting the battle on behalf of the United States.

QUESTION: Let's talk about Iran. As you know, these talks with the Iranians are continuing. Another meeting is scheduled for May 23rd. The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, says - and I'm quoting now, when he heard about the - there'll be another round on May 23rd, he said, "My initial impression is that Iran has been given a freebie." A freebie.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think that is not accurate because what came out of the first meeting was a commitment to a second meeting with a work plan between the two meetings. We are really getting down to testing whether or not there is a willingness on the part of the Iranians to reach some kind of negotiated resolution --

QUESTION: Are you encouraged by the first round?

SECRETARY CLINTON: I believe that the first round was positive because, from our assessment, after having no contact for 15 months, the Iranians came back to the table at a time when sanctions are really continuing to put a lot of pressure on the Iranian Government and are willing to talk about their nuclear program, which is an important, positive step.

Now we have a long way to go, and this has got to be very clearly laid out as to what the international community expects, what is acceptable, of course, to the United States since we are at the table with the P-5+1. But there is a chance - and I don't want to oversell it - that between now and the second meeting, we will hammer out what the international community, represented by the so-called P-5+1, requires of Iran and what Iran is willing to do.

QUESTION: And if they do take these measures, will you encourage the alliance to slow down on these economic sanctions?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I can't answer that because it's so hypothetical right now. I believe in very clear action for action. We have to see what the Iranians are willing to do, then we have to make sure they do it, and then we have to reciprocate. That's what a negotiation is all about. And right now, we are still in the testing stage.

QUESTION: If they don't do what you want them to do, the Iranians, are you - and you're the Defense Secretary - ready to use military force to destroy their nuclear capabilities?

SECRETARY PANETTA: As the President has pointed out, and as I've pointed out, we are prepared with all options on the table if we have to respond.

QUESTION: And is there a plan in place? Because I know the Pentagon; I used to cover the Pentagon. There are always contingency plans for everything. Do you have a specific contingency plan to do that?

SECRETARY PANETTA: One of the things I found out as Secretary of Defense is we do one hell of a lot of planning on everything.

SECRETARY CLINTON: (Laughter.)

SECRETARY PANETTA: So I can assure you that there are plans to deal with -

QUESTION: And if you have to do it, will it succeed? Are you convinced it would succeed?

SECRETARY PANETTA: I don't think there's any question that if we have to implement that plan, it will be successful.

QUESTION: On Syria, is President Bashar al-Assad, according to your opinion, Madam Secretary, a war criminal?

SECRETARY CLINTON: I'm not going to get into the labeling, Wolf, because what I'm doing now is trying to see whether or not he is going to implement Kofi Annan's plan. And I don't think it's useful to do anything other than focus on the six points of the plan. Right now, it doesn't appear, once again, that he is going to follow through on what he has pledged to the international community he will do.

We are still working to see about getting monitors in to be able to have an independent source of information coming out to the Security Council. I will be going to Paris tomorrow afternoon to meet with like-minded nations at an ad hoc meeting to take stock of where we are. But it was significant that the Security Council endorsed Kofi Annan's six-point plan, the Syrian Government said they would abide by it, and yet we still see shelling going on in Homs and Idlib and other places.

QUESTION: Are these crimes against humanity?

SECRETARY CLINTON: I think what we want to do is begin an accountability project to gather evidence. We really don't want to be labeling what we see, which are clearly disproportionate use of force, human rights abuses, absolutely merciless shelling with heavy weaponry into unarmed civilian areas, even shelling across borders now into Turkey and Lebanon, as happened last week. We're interested in stopping the behavior, but at the same time we do want to see evidence collected so that there could be in the future accountability for these actions.

QUESTION: It sounds like the answer is yes. You do believe these are crimes.

SECRETARY CLINTON: No, I don't want you to put words - don't put words in my mouth. We're not making those kinds of charges or claims. Our goal right now is if the Assad regime were to say okay, we agree we're going to everything that Kofi Annan asks us to do, that would be our focus, not some future maybe unlikely outcome in terms of criminal accountability. What I'm interested in is let's stop the violence; let's start the political transition.

QUESTION: Senator McCain says the U.S. should take the military lead in arming the rebels, maybe even going forward with a no-fly zone. Here's the question. We're at NATO headquarters, Mr. Secretary. Is NATO impotent in Syria right now?

SECRETARY PANETTA: I don't think so. I think that NATO, frankly, has shown that it can take on the challenges.

QUESTION: In Libya, it did. But in Syria, it's not doing anything.

SECRETARY PANETTA: And it did a great job. And it shows that when the international community comes together and decides to take action, that we can take action that achieves the result --

QUESTION: The argument is that Libya -

SECRETARY PANETTA: In this situation, the international community, Wolf, has not made that decision.

QUESTION: If it does, would NATO take action?

SECRETARY PANETTA: If the international community makes the decision that we have to take further steps, we'll be prepared to do that.

QUESTION: A no-fly zone, arming the rebels, all of that?

SECRETARY PANETTA: I mean, obviously, that'll - that would have to be discussed as part of what our plan is required in order to achieve the mission --

QUESTION: Any chance China and Russia will go forward with what they did in Libya and allow such a resolution to go forward at the UN Security Council?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, right now that's a longshot. There doesn't seem to be any willingness on their part to go further than where we are right now. But this is a fast-changing situation. And countries have a lot of relationships. We know that there are relationships, certainly, with Syria. There are also relationships with Turkey, there are relationships with the Gulf, there are relationships with European countries - all of whom are very worried about what will happen if Syria either/or both descends into civil war or causes a larger regional conflict.

So I don't think we are even - I don't think we're halfway through this story yet, Wolf. We're going to see a lot happen over the next few weeks. And it truly is up to the Assad regime. They're the ones who hold it in their power to end the violence and begin the political transition.

QUESTION: How much time do they have?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I mean, they're running out of time because they've made so many promises which they've never kept. So their credibility, even with those countries that support them --

QUESTION: Like Russia and China?

SECRETARY CLINTON: -- like Russia and China, is beginning to fray.

QUESTION: North Korea. Mitt Romney says the Obama Administration's, in his words, "incompetence" emboldened the North Korean regime and undermined the security of the United States and its allies. Do you want to respond to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee?

SECRETARY PANETTA: No, not necessarily. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Well, he makes a serious charge: incompetence.

SECRETARY PANETTA: No, I think it's pretty clear that this Administration took a firm stand with regards to the provocative behavior that North Korea engaged in. We made clear that they should not do it. We condemned that action. Even though it was not successful and it was a failure, the fact is it was provocative. And we have made very clear to them that they should not take any additional provocative actions. I think that was a clear, strong message that not only our country but the world said to North Korea. And that's the way, frankly, the United States ought to (inaudible).

QUESTION: If they do an underground nuclear test, for example, what would you do?

SECRETARY PANETTA: That would be, again, another provocation --

QUESTION: And what would you do?

SECRETARY PANETTA: And it would worsen our relationship. I'm not going to get into how we would respond to that, but clearly we are prepared at the Defense Department for any contingency.

QUESTION: There's still 30,000 U.S. troops along that demilitarized zone between North and South Korea.

SECRETARY PANETTA: That's right.

QUESTION: A million North Korean troops, almost a million South Korean troops, nuclear arms - this is a very dangerous part of the world.

SECRETARY PANETTA: No question we're within an inch of war almost every day in that part of the world, and we just have to be very careful about what we say and what we do.

QUESTION: Does that keep you up at night more than any other issue?

SECRETARY PANETTA: Well, unfortunately these days, there's a hell of lot that keeps me awake. But that's one of the ones at the top of the list.

QUESTION: What are the others?

SECRETARY PANETTA: Well, obviously Iran, Syria, the whole issue of turmoil in the Middle East, the whole issue of cyber war, the whole issue of weapons of mass destruction, rising powers - I mean, all of those things are threats that the United States faces in today's world.

QUESTION: You've got a lot of issues over there. What do you think of this new young leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un? Not even 30 years old yet.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, we really are waiting and watching to see whether he can be the kind of leader that the North Korean people need. I mean, if he just follows in the footsteps of his father, we don't expect much other than the kind of provocative behavior and the deep failure of the political and economic elite to take care of their own people. But he is someone who has lived outside of North Korea, apparently, from what we know. We believe that he may have some hope that the conditions in North Korea can change.

But again, we're going to watch and wait. He gave a speech the other day that was analyzed as being some of the old, same old stuff and some possible new approach. But it's too early.

QUESTION: When I was in Pyongyang in December of 2010, I was amazed that I could see CNN International in my hotel. They watch CNNI very closely. If you had a chance to speak to Kim Jung-un, even a sentence or two, what would you say to him?

SECRETARY CLINTON: I would say that as a young man with your future ahead of you, be the kind of leader that can now move North Korea into the modern world, into the 21st century; educate your people; open up your system; allow the talents of the North Korean people to be realized; move away from a failed economic system that has kept so many of your people in starvation; be the kind of leader who will be remembered for the millennia as the person who moved North Korea on a path of reform; and you have the opportunity to do that.

QUESTION: Are you ready to meet with him?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, under circumstances that don't exist today. The United States, as you know, was willing to try and reach out to him, which we did. We had several high-level meetings. We agreed to provide some food aid in return for their ending some of their uranium enrichment and missile development. And then they do what has been already termed by Leon and the rest of the world as a provocative action.

So it's hard for us to tell right now. Is this the way it will be with this new leader, or does he feel like he has to earn his own credibility in order to have a new path for North Korea? Too soon to tell.

QUESTION: The story of these military personnel in Cartagena, it's a shocking story, I know. I mean, I can only imagine when you heard about the prostitutes and Secret Service agents and U.S. military personnel, I can only imagine, Mr. Secretary, what went through your mind. But tell us what went through your mind.

SECRETARY PANETTA: Well, I don't usually use those words in public. It was very disturbing. And the reason it was disturbing is that whether it takes place in Colombia or any other country or in the United States, we expect that our people behave according to the highest standards of conduct. That obviously didn't happen here, and as a result we're investigating the matter. And as a result of that investigation, we'll hold these people accountable.

QUESTION: Diplomatic fallout for this incident? It's unfortunate, obviously.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, I don't think so much diplomatic fallout as the unfortunate fact that it certainly ate up a lot of the coverage of the summit, which was a meaningful get-together, only happens once every three years, an opportunity to showcase Colombia. Think about how much Colombia has changed. And the United States, with our Plan Colombia support, has really been at the forefront of helping Colombia emerge as a real dynamo in the region.

As Leon said, there'll be investigations both in the military and the Secret Service. I've had Secret Service protection for more than 20 years, and I've only seen the very best, the professionalism, the dedication of the men and women who have been around me and my family.

QUESTION: When we were in Cairo a year ago, I asked you a few political questions. We're in a political season, as you well know, in the United States.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Are we?

QUESTION: I don't know if you've heard about it.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Yeah, and I don't know about these things anymore.

QUESTION: All right. Let's go through the questions that I'm sure you've been asked, but I'm going to ask them again. If the President of the United States says, "Madam Secretary, I need you on the ticket this year in order to beat Romney," are you ready to run as his vice presidential nominee?

SECRETARY CLINTON: That is not going to happen. That's like saying if the Olympic Committee calls you up and said are you ready to run the marathon, would you accept? Well, it's not going to happen.

QUESTION: I disagree.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, well --

QUESTION: I think it's - it's unlikely, I will say that.

SECRETARY CLINTON: It's more than unlikely.

QUESTION: But if he sees in July that he is going down, he doesn't want to be a one-term president.

SECRETARY CLINTON: But Leon and I are in this awkward position, because we were - we've both been in politics and now we're in two jobs that are out of politics for all the right reasons. So I don't comment on politics anymore. But I'm very confident about the outcome of this election. And as I've said many times, I think Joe Biden, who is a dear friend of ours, has served our country and served the President very well. So I'm out of politics, but I am very supportive of the team that we have in the White House going forward.

QUESTION: But you would do whatever it takes to help the President get re- elected? You don't want to see him be a one-term president, and you certainly don't want to see Romney name one or two Supreme Court justices in four years.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I could just imagine your poor mother. "Why? Why, mother? Why, mother? Why, Mother?" (Laughter.) No, honestly, it is not going to happen, so I'm not going to speculate on something that I know is not going to be happening.

QUESTION: Let's try this one. (Laugher.) I asked my Twitter followers for a question for the Secretary of State. Shelly tweeted this: "Has Hillary seen the movie The Iron Lady about Margaret Thatcher, and it is time for a female president of the United States of America?" And then she writes, "My answer is yes." Is it time for a female - like you, for example - in 2016 to run for president of the United States? (Laughter.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, let me depersonalize it, take it away from me. Of course I believe it's time for a woman to be president. I was just in Brazil with the extraordinary Dilma Rousseff, the president of Brazil, at the Summit of the Americas. We had three presidents, two prime ministers of countries in our hemisphere. We just saw a woman succeed to the presidency in Malawi. It's happening in the world, and obviously --

QUESTION: Except in the United States.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, it will. I just hope I'm still around when it does. I want to mark my ballot.

QUESTION: Well, let me ask the Secretary of Defense. If she runs in 2016 --

SECRETARY CLINTON: Here it comes, here it comes. You're out of politics, remember? (Laughter.)

QUESTION: If she runs, will you support her in 2016, if she runs? (Laughter.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, let's not (inaudible). (Laughter.)

QUESTION: It's an easy question -

SECRETARY PANETTA: Are you kidding me? (Laughter.) You want her to run in 2016. She's a great leader. She's been a great leader and she will be a great leader in the future.

QUESTION: They really want you, and a lot of Democrats and others, they would like you to run in 2016. I just see you smiling. So you can go ahead and announce your --

SECRETARY CLINTON: Look, I am honored. That is not in the future for me. But obviously I'm hoping that I'll get to cast my vote for a woman running for president of our country.

QUESTION: Did you see those pictures of her drinking a little beer? Have you seen those, Mr. Secretary? (Laughter.)

SECRETARY PANETTA: (Inaudible.)

QUESTION: Those were great pictures.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, we were having a good time celebrating the birthday of one of my colleagues. And I sometimes forget that everybody is now a potential reporter or photographer, but it was a lot of fun. We had a very good time just enjoying beautiful Cartagena.

QUESTION: I love that picture of you texting at the summit. You've seen that one too, right?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes, I have seen that, too. Yes, that actually was very funny, and a lot of the back and forth of the kinds of inventive dialogue was very funny. I've gotten a lot of comments about that.

QUESTION: Of course you have. Well, thank you so much to both of you for joining us. On behalf of all of our viewers in the United States and around the world, good luck to you, whatever you decide to do down the road. Mr. Secretary, you've got a lot on your agenda. Both of you have a lot on your agenda. We're all counting on you to get the job done. Thanks very much.

SECRETARY PANETTA: Thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you, Wolf. It's great to talk to you. Appreciate it.

QUESTION: Thanks.

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AGENCY: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE

SIC-MAJOR-GROUP: 09 - General Classification

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The Frontrunner

April 19, 2012 Thursday

Obama Camp, GOP Intensify Battle For Hispanic Voters' Support

SECTION: NATIONAL CAMPAIGN NEWS

LENGTH: 750 words

USA Today (4/19, Kucinich, 1.78M) reports that the RNC "and the Obama campaign launched dueling outreach programs this week to" woo Hispanics, "a pitch to Latino voters that's likely to continue throughout the 2012 cycle." Obama's "campaign is emphasizing the work the administration has done to expand educational programs and healthcare access" for Hispanics, while the GOP "pitch will focus on the economy and promises they say were broken by the Obama administration." The President's camp on Wednesday "released the first in a series of Spanish-language television and radio ads featuring tributes to Obama in Colorado, Nevada and Florida. The RNC announced Monday that it is placing Hispanic outreach directors in six states: Florida, New Mexico, Colorado, Virginia, North Carolina and Nevada."

The Washington Times (4/19, Dinan, 77K) reports, "Dream Act students rallied outside Mitt Romney's campaign speech in North Carolina on Wednesday, accusing him of forsaking Hispanic immigrants and vowing to make him pay in the November election," while the Obama camp "announced its own outreach efforts to try to shore up" the President's "support among Hispanic voters. The Obama campaign also launched its first set of Spanish-language ads, airing in Colorado, Nevada and Florida, that tout his expansion of federal funding for education. The moves are designed to try to hold on to Hispanic voters, who backed Mr. Obama 67 percent to 31 percent over John McCain in 2008, and whom the president's campaign deems critical to a repeat win this year."

The Hill (4/18, Parnes) reported on its website, "The Obama campaign on Wednesday intensified its push to appeal to Hispanic voters, launching a new outreach effort, 'Latinos for Obama,' and calling the demographic the 'deciding factor' in the 2012 presidential election." During "a conference call...Messina said the Hispanic vote will be critical to President Obama's reelection efforts. He touted Obama's support on issues that appeal to Hispanic voters, including education and healthcare, and said Obama's policies have created 1.2 million jobs in the Hispanic community so far."

Politico (4/18, Tau, 25K) reported on its website, "Campaign surrogates [for Obama] pointed to" GOP "opposition to two measures important to activists in the Hispanic community: comprehensive immigration reform that would provide a pathway to citizenship to millions of undocumented immigrations, and the narrower DREAM Act that would only deal with the children of immigrants brought to the US as minors." During the conference call, San Antonio mayor Julian Castro, "a co-chair of the Obama campaign, said...Romney's position was more 'extreme' than even congressional Republicans. 'Mitt Romney has become very, very clear over these last few months that he's on the wrong side of every single issue that's important to the Hispanic community -- whether it's healthcare, or immigration or jobs,' Castro said."

The Los Angeles Times (4/19, Memoli, 630K) reports that Obama's "campaign also addressed what they see as Romney's vulnerabilities among Latinos on other issues, including both immigration and the economy." Noting that the RNC on Monday "announced a Hispanic Outreach Program that included dispatching state directors to Florida, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Virginia and North Carolina," The Times added that Obama campaign manager Jim Messina "said he feels 'very sorry' for those organizers who he said would be struggling to explain the party's record on immigration reform, the DREAM Act and healthcare reform." Said Messina, "They're naming one person per state ... whereas we've had operations on the ground for over a year and are working every single night hitting the doors,' he said."

The Palm Beach (FL) Post (4/19, Bennett, 100K) reports that Messina "also used the word 'extreme' to describe Romney's immigration stance - echoing criticism from Romney Republican rival Newt Gingrich, who called Romney 'anti-immigrant' in a January radio ad that was pulled after Sen. Marco Rubio objected." The Post added, "Romney adviser Albert Martinez accused Obama's allies of trying to divert attention from the president's 'record of failure on the issues most important to Latinos. Hispanics have been hit especially hard as a result of three years of President Obama's record of high unemployment, soaring debt, and skyrocketing gas prices. President Obama will do everything possible to make this election about anything other than his failed record.'"

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The Frontrunner

April 19, 2012 Thursday

MA: Warren Supports Repeal Of Device Tax In Healthcare Act

SECTION: SENATE CAMPAIGN NEWS

LENGTH: 407 words

The Hill (4/18, Baker) reports in its "Healthwatch" blog that Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren (D) "said she would support repealing part of President Obama's healthcare law." In an op-ed appearing in the trade publication Mass Device, Warren said that "Congress should repeal the health law's tax on medical devices." She said that could be done "without cutting healthcare coverage for millions of people or forcing Americans to fight the whole healthcare battle all over again." The story notes that both Sens. John Kerry and Al Franken, Democrats "from a device-industry state" have criticized the tax, but did not support Sen. Scott Brown's (R) "proposal to repeal the policy in 2010."

New York Yankees President Donates $2,500 To Brown.

In his Boston Herald (4/18, 107K) column, Joe Battenfeld wrote that Brown "may be rooting for the Red Sox against the Yankees this week, but the head of the hated Pinstripes is going to bat for Brown." New York Yankees president Randy Levine donated the maximum $2,500 to Brown's campaign last month. "We're happy to accept Randy Levine's donation," Brown campaign spokesman Colin Reed said. "The way Scott Brown looks at it is, this is their way of paying us back for Babe Ruth."

Politico (4/19, Weinger, 25K), noting Battenfield's column on Brown receiving donations from Yankees executives, adds that Brown recently "launched a radio ad about his support and love for Fenway Park, which is currently celebrating its 100-year anniversary." He also "debuted a web ad focused on Opening Day, showing himself and his wife greeting people outside the stadium." He said, "The beginning of baseball, the beginning of the new season, it's always a hopeful season. I listen to every single Red Sox game I can."

Brown Blogs About His Dogs.

Politico (4/18, Lee, 25K) reports, "With the Obama and Romney campaigns busy defending their respective candidate's bona fides as pet owners," Brown "is out to prove he's a dog's best friend with the launch of a blog about his two canine companions, Koda and Snuggles." The newest part of the Brown campaign website "features a video of the Republican freshman snuggling with his dogs, as well as pictures of rescue dogs that visit the Brown campaign office in South Boston." Brown wrote on the blog, "I've only been in the Senate for two years, but I definitely agree it's helpful having our two family pets, Koda and Snuggles, by my side whenever possible."

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The Frontrunner

April 19, 2012 Thursday

Late Night Political Humor

SECTION: LAST LAUGHS

LENGTH: 503 words

Conan O'Brien:

"President Obama is gearing up for his presidential campaign. He's created a new series of ads aimed at Latinos. The first ad boasts that 'Just last week my Secret Service created jobs for 11 Colombian women.' That's a lot of jobs."

Conan O'Brien:

"The Secret Service scandal is getting worse because ... apparently agents were also snorting cocaine. However, in the agents' defense, hotels in Columbia offer cocaine in the mini bar. If you think it's expensive on the street ?"

Conan O'Brien:

"Mitt Romney is weighing in. He said Secret Service personnel involved in the scandal should be fired for putting 'play time ahead of the nation.' So I think the real story here is that Mitt Romney describes prostitutes and cocaine as 'play time.' He's cooler than I thought."

Jon Stewart:

"Two days ago we were discussing an issue concerning the General Services Administration. Basically the facilities manager of the United States government. Their mission is to exemplify efficiency and cost-cutting, a task they felt could best be expressed by a lavish $822,000 three-day Las Vegas conference/epic [bleep] fest. Since then scandal has broadened out from one ostentatious not lost enough weekend to apparently systemic issues of corruption. So the GSA must now face one of the most feared groups in all of Washington. The House Oversight Committee, a terrible collection of people who, but for the grace of God, would probably have ended up working for an organization like the GSA."

Stephen Colbert:

"Nation, now that we conservatives are all thrilled to have no option but Mitt Romney speculation turns to who we will be forced to accept as his running mate."

Stephen Colbert:

"Maybe Romney should go with someone blander [than Sen. Portman] like a headless Joseph A. Bank mannequin or a rice cake or a heel of white bread. No, they're all too fascinating. Damn it. Who can Mitt Romney find who won't overshadow him? Wait! That's it! The perfect ticket! Romney/Romney's Shadow 2012. And the best part is it will change positions every time he does!"

Jimmy Kimmel

: "Mitt Romney is getting a lot of heat from animal lovers because of a story he told of when he put his dog Seamus in a pet carrier and strapped the carrier to the roof of his car for a 12 hour road trip. But now President Obama is the subject of a canine controversy, thanks to his own book. In Obama's memoir, called, 'Dreams from My Father,' he talked about his childhood in Indonesia living with his stepfather, Lolo, he said when he was eight years old, Lolo introduced him to a number of unusual meats, including dog. Our President ate dog."

Jimmy Kimmel:

"What I find most amazing about this is this is not something that someone dug up on him from a distant relative in Indonesia or something. This was in chapter in a book the President wrote about himself. How did we miss this? If Ryan Seacrest wrote a book saying he ate dog, we would go nuts. I guess now you are either on Team Strap Your Dog to the Roof or Team Throw Your Dog on the Hibachi."

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Las Vegas Review-Journal (Nevada)

April 19, 2012 Thursday

Canadian health care system isn't so bad

BYLINE: R-J Readers

SECTION: B; Pg. 6B

LENGTH: 994 words

To the editor:

I read with interest Sherman Frederick's Sunday column on ObamaCare, which he called a "bastardized Canada-lite system that eventually delivers timely care only to those who know somebody with pull in the government." Then he states, "Canadians know what I'm talking about."

I wonder what Canadians he is speaking of.

I spend every winter here in Las Vegas, love your city, your state and your country. Last year, upon my return to Calgary, I went to my family doctor on May 4 complaining about cramps, etc. She scheduled a colonoscopy for May 16 and on that day informed me that I had colon cancer. She referred me to a surgeon. After my May 24 visit with him, the operation was scheduled for May 26. I came home on May 30 and a month later was told the good news, no further treatment required.

Now I know nobody in government. I did not pay one dime for this service. I realize, of course, that my tax dollars are paying for health care, but that is OK with me - and what the government pays the doctors is also OK with me. And now that I have a "pre-existing" condition, I am still guaranteed service.

Judy McCallum

Las Vegas

Romney's choice

To the editor:

On the issue of Mitt Romney's running mate:

Mr. Romney, the probable GOP presidential nominee, might hit a home run with Brian Sandoval, a former federal judge who was elected Nevada's first-ever Hispanic governor two years ago. Gov. Sandoval has also been a former attorney general, served in the Assembly and been chairman of the Gaming Commission. The Silver State is a bellwether state.

Bill Byrnes

Dayton

Life experience

To the editor:

Terry O'Neill, president of NOW, added another insult when - in trying to clarify Hilary Rosen's recent comments - she said Ann Romney lacks the "life experience" and "imagination" needed to understand most Americans. But I believe I have an answer for those asking how the rich Romneys could possibly relate to the poor.

Mitt Romney was a Mormon bishop. Having been an active Mormon most of my 55 years, I can provide an idea of what means. It is an unpaid position, and as a bishop you are called to tend to not only the spiritual but also the temporal needs of your ward. Anyone who needs assistance with food or clothing or shelter can go to the bishop, and he can give assistance through the funds set aside for that purpose.

I have seen rents paid and utility bills paid. The money for all of this comes from the individual members through fast offerings that are given the first Sunday of each month, as members are asked to skip two meals and give the price of those meals to the ward.

The bishop of the ward often learns who needs help through the relief society president, who leads the adult women of the ward. As part of her duties to know where help may be needed, the relief society president sees that every sister in the ward is visited by someone each month. Oftentimes the wife of the bishop is called to that calling, especially back east, where the members are spread out more.

If Mrs. Romney ever served in this calling, her life experiences give her plenty of knowledge about the problems poor people can have. I think before Ms. O'Neill starts making judgments, she should do a little research. I'm not sure Mother Teresa got paid for her job, either.

bree wallis

Caliente

Equal pay

To the editor:

In response to your Sunday story, "Gender gap: Myth or reality?"

Are these men who are earning 20 percent more than women in Nevada and elsewhere also fathers? Why is it that a working father does not opt for a less highly compensated job with more flex time? Perhaps because he makes the "life choice" to leave the problem of schedule contortion to his wife with the low-paying job so he can focus on his career.

Until men can conceive and deliver babies or start to participate equally in parenting, women will not be able to "choose" jobs to which they are required to devote their undiluted energies with associated higher pay. Not until then will we see whether people are really paid what they are worth.

Those who argue against changes that would allow women economic equality are the same ones who are benefiting from the current system that promotes lower pay for women. I am surprised that this article did not mention this very real explanation for the non-mythical gender gap in pay.

Kathleen M. Maynard

Las Vegas

More money

To the editor:

Sunday's Review-Journal included a full-page ad from The Council for a Better Nevada, a group of "Southern Nevada leaders," saluting the Clark County School Board, the superintendent and the district administration.

I will give credibility to this group when it takes out another full-page ad which addresses the No. 1 problem facing education in this state. That is the lack of a funding system that will bring in enough revenue to build a strong educational system.

Nearly every ranking of expenditures per student has the state in the bottom three or four in the country. Teacher salaries are average, at best, and they still are asked to give up more. How can you expect a strong teaching staff when a valet driver can make more than twice that of a beginning teacher? Class sizes in many areas are too high to give the attention needed to all students.

When I see members of this group publicly stand up for a better-funded education system, then I will tip my hat to them. It might be hard to do because those two dreaded words - tax increase - may be necessary to do this.

Window dressing goes only so far to improve the system. You have to address the main problem.

Robert Gregorich

Henderson

THE FINAL WORD

"At the time, I remember thinking it didn't seem to be a great use of taxpayer money."

A potential juror in the retrial of former baseball star Roger Clemens (left), who is accused of misleading a House committee at a drugs-and-sports hearing in 2008. The woman was expressing her thoughts this week on the original trial, which a judge ended abruptly after prosecutors introduced inadmissible evidence.

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Marketwire

April 19, 2012 Thursday 5:00 AM GMT

CrowdFanatic Releases Today at DEMO Spring 2012 a 'Groups-Connectivity Layer' on Facebook;
The Revolutionary App Connects Facebook's Groups and Pages Directly With Each Other and Forms a New Layer of Functionality on Facebook

LENGTH: 621 words

DATELINE: SANTA CLARA, CA; Apr 19, 2012

CrowdFanatic announces today at DEMO Spring 2012 event, the release of a game changing environment on Facebook, CrowdFanatic App, the 'Groups-Connectivity Layer.' A revolutionary application which directly connects groups and pages on Facebook with each other.

Using the app, The Hunger Games fans can challenge Twilight fans, Apple aficionados can engage hard core Androiders and Romney supporters can try to convert Obama's voters to win the election.

According to CrowdFanatic, Facebook groups and pages act as isolated islands with no bridges to other groups and limited ways to promote their causes or challenge rivals. Facebook connects individuals with individuals, but misses a layer to connect groups with each other to reflect real world interactions.

No more. CrowdFanatic presents today the 'Groups Connectivity Layer' on Facebook. The gamified app enables Facebook users to engage directly two Facebook groups or pages with each other in a competitive, gamified Arena.

In that A vs B arena, supporters of two rival groups engage directly to promote their cause, initiate a democratic dialog or challenge opponents. They vote for their group, debate over relevant topics, recruit more supporters and send viral messages to promote their group -- all in order to win public debates and sway public opinion to their side.

The new environment is poised to revolutionize the way commercial brands, political movements, sports teams, celebrities and their supporters can gain public support and engage rivals.

"CrowdFanatic on Facebook is a game changer," said Matt Marshall, executive producer of DEMO. "It empowers users with the ability to fight actively for their groups and has a good potential to change the way groups use social media to promote their cause."

"Our goal is to provide a democratic arena that promotes direct dialog between rivals in a fun and entertaining way," said Yaron Bazaz, founder and CEO of CrowdFanatic. "A healthy competitive rivalry is in the heart of our culture. We believe that an environment that facilitates direct engagements of groups is an important step in the evolution of the internet and a great tool for brands and users to adopt."

To experience the CrowdFanatic app on Facebook go to https://apps.facebook.com/crowdfanaticapp (make sure to login to Facebook first).

A Video of the CrowdFanatic presentation at Demo Spring 2012 will be released at www.demo.com in the coming days.

About CrowdFanatic CrowdFanatic is the first Direct Engagement Platform -- a totally new genre of online services for groups to deliberately engage rivals in order to win public debates, initiate direct dialogue with opponents and sway public opinion. CrowdFanatic is based in Vancouver, BC and Sunnyvale, California. Join us at apps.facebook.com/crowdfanaticapp and www.crowdfanatic.com . Follow us at https://twitter.com/crowdfanatic

About DEMO Produced by the IDG Enterprise events group, the worldwide DEMO conferences focus on emerging technologies and new products innovations, which are hand selected from across the spectrum of the technology marketplace. The DEMO conferences have earned their reputation for consistently identifying cutting-edge technologies and helping entrepreneurs secure venture funding and establish critical business. For more information on the DEMO conferences, visit http://www.demo.com/.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1954601

For more information and interview opportunities please contact:

Yaron Bazaz

Founder and CEO

CrowdFanatic Online Inc.

www.crowdfanatic.com

Email Contact

1-650-319-8877

1-778-895-2703

440 N. Wolfe Rd., Sunnyvale, CA 94085

Suite 200-52 A Powell Street Vancouver, BC V6A 1E7

SOURCE: CrowdFanatic

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The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News

April 19, 2012 Thursday

The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester, Granite Status column

BYLINE: John DiStaso, The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester

SECTION: STATE AND REGIONAL NEWS

LENGTH: 2563 words

April 19--QUARTERLY REPORTS. So, who's giving to whom? The quarterly reports are in, so it's a good time to take a look at the congressional races.

In the 2nd District, Democrat Ann McLane Kuster leads Republican incumbent Charlie Bass not only in overall fund-raising but also in the percentage of contributions received from individual donors, as opposed to PACs.

Kuster in the first quarter raised $348,024, with $267,290 from individuals and $80,189 from PACs. Since the 2010 election, she has raised $1.4 million, with $1.19 million coming from individuals and nearly $210,000 from PACs.

Bass raised $268,483 in the first quarter with $94,583 from individual donors and $173,900 from PACs. He's raised a total of $1.03 million since the 2010 election, with $336,714 from individuals and $691,537 from PACs.

Among the PACs making heavy contributions to Kuster are NARAL-PAC, New York Rep. Steve Israel's New York Jobs PAC, the Sheet Metal Workers International Association, the United Auto Workers, the United Food and Commercial Workers, United Steelworkers and Progressive Choices PAC.

While many of Kuster's individual donors are from New Hampshire, she did receive $1,000 from TV producer Stephen Bochco and $250 from Fox television executive Nancy Cotton.

Bass's PAC contributors included the AT&T, the Edison Electric Institute, Northeast Utilities, the National Restaurant Association, Lockheed Martin employees, the American Gas Association, Verizon, the Solar Energy Industries PAC and Boeing.

The second quarter began with Kuster having $1.03 million, and Bass, $790,416, on hand.

As expected, there has been a lot less money raised, spent and saved so far in the 1st District. Republican incumbent Frank Guinta in the first quarter raised $179,842, with $101,592 coming from individuals and $77,250 from PACs.

Since the 2010 election, Guinta has raised $962,672, with $521,417 from individuals and $441,254 from PACs.

Democratic former Rep. Carol Shea-Porter raised $101,289 in the first quarter, with $80,289 from individuals and $21,000 from PACs.

She has raised a total of $395,154 since the 2010 election, with $310,154 from individuals and $85,000 from PACs.

A sampling of Guinta's PAC contributions came from the American Bankers Association, Citizens Financial, Clear Channel Communications, Independent Community Bankers, Boeing, Liberty Mutual Insurance, AFLAC and AT&T. Sen. Kelly Ayotte's KellyPAC contributed $5,000.

Shea-Porter's PAC donors were the Teamsters, the AFSCME public workers union, Progressive Choices PAC and several contributions earmarked through the JStreet PAC, a self-described pro-Israel PAC supported by people who "believe that a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is essential to Israel's survival."

Guinta entered the second quarter with $674,747 on hand, while Shea-Porter reported having $183,159.

FORBES FOR OVIDE. Conservative financial magazine publisher and Fox News television personality Steve Forbes is endorsing fellow Republican Ovide Lamontagne for New Hampshire governor.

Forbes, a two-time presidential candidate, backed Lamontagne in his run for the U.S. Senate in 2010, a race Lamontagne narrowly lost in a party primary to Ayotte.

In backing Lamontagne in 2010, Forbes called him "a proven conservative leader of principle and conviction" who will be a "friend to taxpayers."

On May 8, Forbes will be featured at a reception for Lamontagne at the Devine Millimet law firm. On May 9, Lamontagne and Forbes will co-host a small business roundtable for regional small business leaders at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College.

MEETING VOTERS. We've learned that Republican Kevin Smith next week will be the first candidate for governor to announce a full schedule of open town hall meetings, something that's seen often during presidential races, but rarely on the gubernatorial level.

Smith's town halls, complete with Q & A from Granite Staters, will take place in all 10 counties during the next two months. He will discuss his "New Hampshire's Future Is Now" economic plan.

The schedule will include, but not be limited to, Kingston during the first week of May; Hudson, May 15; Dover, May 21; Laconia, May 22 or 23; Plymouth, May 29;

Newport, May 31; Conway and Berlin, June 5; Keene, June 11; Hampton, June 12; Bow, the week of June 18; Merrimack, June 20; Colebrook and Littleton, June 28.

TARGETING GUINTA, BASS. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is reserving $520,000 worth of advertising time on WMUR television in Manchester for post-Labor Day buys.

A Democratic source confirmed the report in Politico, which said that the DCCC is preparing $32 million worth of broadcast ad buys nationally, targeting the seats of 26 GOP incumbents, including Guinta and Bass, as well as seven Democratic incumbents and three open seats.

Both New Hampshire congressmen, especially Bass, are viewed as vulnerable by the Democrats. As Politico noted, Democrats need to pick up 25 seats to gain control of the House.

According to a Democrat familiar with the planned buys, this is the first of multiple "waves" of advertising buys planned by the DCCC, some focusing on swing states where the presidential contenders will be vying.

The $520,000 planned to be spent at WMUR may focus on one or both of the races. To what degree one race takes precedence over the other -- or how much is actually spent in New Hampshire in total -- remains to be seen, although it is clear that the Bass race against Kuster will receive much attention from both sides.

A Republican source says he has been told by national GOP media buyers that WMUR has not yet heard from the DCCC regarding the buy.

"It's clear that Nancy Pelosi is planning to use her Washington special-interest money to boost Annie Kuster," said NHGOP executive director Tory Mazzola, "but the reality is that this is more smoke-and-mirrors because a meaningless reservation has no money behind it. If they really thought Kuster had a chance, they'd pre-pay, but that's a gamble they are not willing to take."

"Meaningless" or not, that didn't stop GOP state chairman Wayne MacDonald from immediately sending out a fund-raising email asking for contributions to counter "the overwhelming influx of advertising being shipped in for the Democrats from Washington."

O'BRIEN: NO MORE NAME-CALLING. House speaker Bill O'Brien, R-Mont Vernon, after announcing his bid for reelection to the House and as speaker, said he realizes he's a target of the Democrats, but will ignore "name-calling."

Soon after we reported O'Brien's bid for reelection on Monday, state Democratic chairman Raymond Buckley said the speaker "has pursued a radical agenda: cutting funding for higher education in half, cutting health care for seniors and children, pushing for guns in college dorm rooms, as well as the State House, and trying to cut access to contraception for women."

The Democratic Party said the speaker "has become known for his tyrannical attitude and disregard for long-established House rules and traditions -- pushing through a vote to override the governor's veto without public notice; taking away aisle seats from disabled members who displease him; and removing from committee members that vote their consciences."

Buckley said he expects to have a strong opponent in O'Brien, whom he called "the poster boy for bad government."

House Democratic Leader Terie Norelli immediately solicited contributions for the House Democratic Caucus PAC through the party clearinghouse "ActBlue," saying, "The last two years have been devastating for Granite Staters."

But O'Brien said, "We really want to get past all this name-calling and false process stories and stories that say thing are happening now in a way that are different than in past terms."

He said he and members of his caucus this summer "will get out there and talk about a budget that has stopped over-spending.

"We've passed bills that have put in place intelligent deregulation and I think the results are beginning to show. The workforce in New Hampshire is growing."

As for the Democrats' criticisms, "On a personal level I know who I am, so it's not really a concern," O'Brien said. "In terms of its effect on politics in New Hampshire, it's unfortunate that we've now gone to this level of trying to engage people through name-calling. I hope the people require the opposition party to come up with specific policies."

O'Brien is looking to pass significant public-employee pension reform, welfare reform and a compromise education-funding constitutional amendment question for the voters this November.

Such an amendment resolution "has to be bipartisan because we won't get two-thirds of the vote unless we can say it came out of both parties."

He said that if a Republican governor is elected, it will lead "almost certainly" to right-to-work legislation, which he said would be "great for New Hampshire."

LILLY LEDBETTER HITS NHGOP. President Barack Obama's reelection campaign in New Hampshire recruited women's equal pay activist Lilly Ledbetter for a conference call yesterday to criticize state Mazzola and Mitt Romney.

Ledbetter is the namesake for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which extends the statute of limitations for filing discrimination lawsuits beyond the previous 180 days. It was the first piece of legislation Obama signed into law three years ago.

Mazzola was critical of the law this week, telling WBIN-TV, "Instead of being about fair pay, it is really about a handout to trial lawyers because it expands the areas that people can sue their employers unnecessarily."

Ledbetter said that Mazzola's comments "presumably show exactly where Mitt Romney stands on the issue."

Norelli and Democratic National Committeewoman Kathy Sullivan also tried to tie the Mazzola comments to Romney.

Norelli said Romney has declined to say whether he would have signed the Ledbetter act.

Romney did say, however, that with the fair pay act now law, "It's certainly a piece of legislation I have no intention of changing."

Sullivan said that Mazzola, in his party post, "is a spokesperson not only for the NHGOP but also for the Republican candidates in the state, and that includes Mitt Romney."

The Obama campaign has been holding phone banks on the issue throughout the state this week.

Mazzola had no comment on the Democrats' criticism of him, but the Republican National Committee responded by saying that women "are being left behind in the Obama economy."

The RNC said that since Obama has been in office, women's unemployment has risen from 7 to 8.1 percent," fewer women are participating in the labor force and the poverty rate among women has risen.

"The past few years under Barack Obama have been devastating for American women," said RNC spokesperson Allie Brandenburger. "New Hampshire women and hardworking families cannot afford any more broken promises from Obama, they need real solutions to reduce our deficit and get our country back on track."

PARTY FUND-RAISING. New Hampshire Democrats lead the Republicans in fund-raising as the second quarter is now underway and general election preparations are picking up.

Looking at the two parties' federal accounts only, the state Democratic Party will report to the Federal Election Commission this week that in March, it took in $243,310, including $163,000 from the Democratic National Committee and $38,000 from individuals.

For the quarter, the NHDP raised $612,448, spent $545,472, and entered the second quarter with $210,988 on hand. The party will report debt totaling $35,414.

The state Republican Party during the same period raised $91,391, spent $76,473, and entered the second quarter with $45,545 on hand.

It reported debt of $52,988, split almost evenly between money owed to law firms in Manchester and Washington, D.C.

JULIANA'S NARROW WIN. Former Cheshire County Republican Chair Juliana Bergeron's victory in the contested race for Republican National Committeewoman was a narrow one last Saturday.

At the Republican State Committee meeting, she defeated Deputy House speaker Pam Tucker 175-170. We understand that Tucker supporters who were there were frustrated because others who had committed to Tucker did not show up.

Others said Tucker was hurt by being named in the controversial National Organization for Marriage full-page ad in the New Hampshire Union Leader last week listing the names of all Republican House members who did not vote in favor of repeal of the same-sex marriage law.

Tucker had an excused absence.

On other hand, Bergeron worked hard quietly behind the scenes to earn the win and will succeed Phyllis Woods on the RNC at the conclusion of the Republican National Convention.

The state committee also voted in favor of a by-laws change to ensure that in the future a two-thirds vote of the party executive committee will be required to remove any of its members, including party officers. The measure addresses the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Jack Kimball as chairman earlier last year.

The state committee also voted to make it easier for county committee members to remove members who are inactive. And in another by-laws change, the state College Republicans were given a seat on the party executive committee.

QUICK TAKES:

-- Candidate for governor Smith plans a "Cowboy Up" fund-raiser featuring the Tom Dixon Band at Murphy's Tap Room in Manchester from 2 to 4 p.m. May 5.

-- Smith has responded to Democratic candidate for governor Hassan's criticism of his call for health-care reform. "Maggie Hassan is living up to the Democrat stereotype of crying wolf and scaring seniors," Smith said. "It's emblematic of how desperate the Democrats will be come November."

He said his plan "would not impact Medicare coverage," as Hassan charged, "services to seniors in New Hampshire, or change how the federal Medicare program is handled in the state."

-- Hassan yesterday picked up the endorsement of former Democratic state Sen. Mary Louise Hancock and former Republican state Sen. Mark Hounsell. The campaign also announced the endorsements of former State Rep. and former Nashua Democratic Chair Harvey Keye, Nashua Alderman Diane Sheehan, Coos County Democratic Chair David Mitchell of Whitefield, pro-choice advocate Christina D'Allesandro of Salem, and Bill Duncan, of Defending New Hampshire Public Education, from New Castle.

-- Manchester state Rep. Phil Greazzo officially kicked off his campaign for the New Hampshire District 20 State Senate seat on Wednesday evening with an announcement at the meeting of the Manchester Republican Committee. Greazzo will oppose Goffstown state Rep. John Hikel in a party primary. Incumbent Lou D'Allesandro is so far the only Democrat in the race.

John DiStaso is senior political reporter of the New Hampshire Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News. Follow him on Twitter @jdistaso.

LOAD-DATE: April 19, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

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Palm Beach Post (Florida)

April 19, 2012 Thursday
FINAL EDITION

Obama aims ads at Florida Latinos ;
His allies call Romney 'extreme' on immigration, but GOP fires back.

BYLINE: By GEORGE BENNETT Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

SECTION: A SECTION; Pg. 1A

LENGTH: 621 words

As President Obama's campaign launched a Spanish-language TV ad blitz in Florida and other swing states with large Hispanic populations, Obama campaign manager Jim Messina and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro painted presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney as "extreme" on immigration.

Republicans, who launched their own Latino outreach program this week, countered by blaming Obama for a sour economy that has been tougher on Hispanics than other groups.

"Mitt Romney would be the most extreme nominee that the Republican Party has ever had on immigration," said Castro, who joined Messina and Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., on a Wednesday conference call to tout the "Latinos for Obama" campaign initiative.

Messina also used the word "extreme" to describe Romney's immigration stance -- echoing criticism from Romney's Republican rival Newt Gingrich, who called the former Massachusetts governor "anti-immigrant" in a January radio ad that was pulled after Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., objected.

Romney has called for beefed-up border security and tougher employer verification standards to curb illegal immigration. He also said Arizona's controversial law cracking down on illegal immigrants was a "model." And Romney has said he would veto the Dream Act, which would offer a path to citizenship to children of illegal immigrants who were raised in the U.S. and complete two years of college or military service.

Romney adviser Albert Martinez accused Obama's allies of trying to divert attention from the president's "record of failure on the issues most important to Latinos. Hispanics have been hit especially hard as a result of three years of President Obama's record of high unemployment, soaring debt and skyrocketing gas prices. President Obama will do everything possible to make this election about anything other than his failed record."

The Obama camp Wednesday began airing ads in Florida, Nevada and Colorado aimed at Latino voters, who supported Obama by a 2-1 margin in 2008. But Hispanic allegiance to the Democratic Party slipped to 60 percent in the 2010 congressional elections.

Obama, who won Florida with 51 percent in 2008, got 57 percent of the state's Latino vote over Republican John McCain, after Republican George W. Bush was supported by 56 percent of Florida Hispanics four years earlier. Hispanics are about 13 percent of the electorate in Florida.

The Obama campaign touted the president's support for immigration reform and said Hispanics are benefiting from the federal health care overhaul and programs such as Head Start and Pell Grants.

Republicans fired back that Latinos have been harder hit by the economic downturn.

The Hispanic unemployment rate was 10 percent in January 2009, when Obama took office. It reached 13.1 percent in November 2010 and stood at 10.3 percent last month -- 2 percentage points higher than the overall national unemployment rate.

"Does President Obama think Hispanics suffer from amnesia?" said U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami. "He may think we have forgotten about his broken promises to save or create 3.5 million jobs, pledge to cut the deficit by half by the end of his first term, or make immigration reform a top priority during his first 12 months as president.

"Not even the most eloquent rhetoric in the world can hide the fact that this has been a failed presidency with nothing but empty promises."

Republicans pointed to Obama's 2008 campaign promise to make immigration reform a "top priority" during his first year in office.

But Menendez blamed Republicans for blocking immigration reform by using Senate procedural rules to require 60 votes to pass legislation. The senator called Obama "someone who clearly stands on our side."

~ george_bennett@pbpost.com

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Roll Call

April 19, 2012 Thursday

Spending Battle for Senate Kicks Into Gear

BYLINE: Kyle Trygstad

SECTION: POLITICS

LENGTH: 972 words

The end of the first fundraising quarter also marked the end of the calm before the storm of spending in the 2012 fight for control of the Senate.

Millions will be doled out over the next seven months, most of it on TV ads and other pricey forms of voter persuasion. So far, outside group spending has yet to kick into high gear, and head-to-head polls in individual races haven't moved much. But Senate races in states such as Missouri and Montana have already seen third-party ad offensives, and the campaign committees are beginning to tip their hand on TV spending strategies.

"There will come a moment in the summer or early fall when people begin to pay attention," said Jonathan Collegio, spokesman for the GOP-aligned American Crossroads, which will likely spend one-third of its potential $300 million budget on House and Senate races.

There is no doubt Democrats feel better than they did six months ago about holding the majority, and Republicans continue to see multiple paths to the finish line. Some races are still shaking out, with another new Republican candidate possibly emerging in Florida and primaries in other crucial states still unfolding. But tossup races in states such as Montana and Virginia, where the players have been known for a year now, are still within the margin of error.

That will all reach a tipping point once nominations are won, voters tune in and campaigns and outside groups gear up for an onslaught of spending at the presidential and Congressional levels.

"It's not the calm before a sea-change storm, but it is a calm before all the money," Democratic media strategist Steve Murphy said.

It's too early to tell exactly where the majority will be won or lost, but the field has mostly solidified into a dozen or so competitive seats out of 33 this cycle. Senate control might ultimately rest on a handful of swing states such as New Mexico, Virginia and Wisconsin, should Republicans close the deal on four open Democratic seats in GOP-leaning states and Democrats pick up a couple of Republican seats - none of which is a given.

Republicans would need to net four Democratic seats to win the majority if President Barack Obama wins re-election, one fewer if Mitt Romney claims the White House.

Outside money has already begun flowing into some of these states in the form of independent expenditures and issue advocacy ads. According to Federal Election Commission IE records, most of the IE spending has come in races with competitive Republican primaries, including Indiana, Nebraska, Texas and Utah.Â

"Republicans are going to have access to more money than Democrats," Murphy said of outside groups. "As long as the Democrats are competitive financially, a lot of this super PAC money is just going to be bombing the rubble."

The National Republican Senatorial Committee signaled last week where it intends to spend its valuable resources, reserving $25 million in airtime in six top battlegrounds. In its initial wave of reservations, the committee is targeting Sens. Jon Tester (Mont.) and Claire McCaskill (Mo.) and the open Democratic seats in Nebraska, Virginia and Wisconsin. It's also assisting Sen. Dean Heller (Nev.), who is in a tossup race in a top presidential battleground.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has not yet indicated where it will spend, but both committees will likely be targeting most of the same states and will no doubt move money around as November approaches.

Additional states where outside money could end up are Arizona, Hawaii, Indiana, North Dakota and Ohio. Florida is prohibitively expensive, making Sen. Bill Nelson's (D) $9.5 million in cash on hand at the end of March an even greater advantage in that competitive state. Ohio will also be pricey, given its competitiveness at the presidential level.

"There will be enormous political clutter in the key presidential battleground states," Republican media strategist Erik Potholm said. "So campaigns will look at a variety of media strategies and tactics to try to get their messages out, including going up earlier to try to define their races."

McCaskill, who is likely the most vulnerable incumbent in the country, still has no idea who her opponent will be. Running as an independent Democrat against a generic Republican in a state the Obama campaign isn't targeting, McCaskill used her first TV ad in February to run against the outside groups already spending against her.

Based on the vulnerability of the incumbent and the relatively reasonable cost of running ads, Missouri is a top candidate for outside spending. McCaskill is getting air support as well from outside groups. Patriot Majority USA reported an IE of just more than $200,000 on April 13, according to FEC records.

Collegio, of American Crossroads, said New Mexico could be the sleeper race of the cycle and noted Ohio and Wisconsin as other top pickup opportunities for Republicans outside of the ones getting the most press.

While polling has been generally stagnant in most races, Democrats say the needle is indeed moving in their direction.

"It's proving to be a favorable political climate for Democrats, increasing the chances that Democrats will hold the majority in the Senate," said J.B. Poersch, a media strategist and former DSCC executive director.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee leaked this week where it's placing $32 million worth of its first TV reservations. The DSCC and National Republican Congressional Committee, which are working to hold their majorities, might also soon follow suit.

"The most important reason to place early is to save money and get the best inventory," Potholm said. "But another strategic benefit of reserving time early is that it signals very clearly to your friends and allies in outside groups where they should fill in the calendar with their media placement."

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San Jose Mercury News (California)

April 19, 2012 Thursday

Letters to the Editor

BYLINE: Times Herald

SECTION: NEWS; Entertainment

LENGTH: 1143 words

Want birth control? Buy it yourself

From a letter you published on April 6: "Don't like contraception? Don't use it. Don't like abortion? Don't have one." OK, but don't make me pay for your use of it.

David Hipple

Livermore

Birth control uproar just a smoke-screen

Walter D. Harvey

Livermore

ObamaCare critics just don't like president

This is an open opinion to all those who are against ObamaCare.

Patricia Sweeney

Pleasanton

Romney, not Obama, to lose Nov. 6 election

A letter writer from Lafayette says "bet the ranch" our next presidential election will be a "blowout."

Dwaine Johnson

Livermore

For-profit health care is simply wrong

Americans claim we have the best health care delivery system on the planet.

Paulette Kenyon

Pleasanton

Lab should work on alternative energy solutions

Lee Torres

Livermore

Clarifying Buffett Rule for those not clued in

Let's cut out the misleading statements on the Buffet Rule.

Can you say "led down the garden path"?

Robert C. Olson, CFP

Pleasanton

Business as usual makes sad news indeed

Here's a news item in the Tri-Valley Times on April 11 buried on page A-9 just above the "Sex For Life" ad: "AFGHANISTAN -- Taliban suicide attackers kill at least 16 people."

Stay tuned for more news about the mass protests, rioting and revenge killings spreading across the country of Afghanistan in response to these killings.

Chip Ungermann

Livermore

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The State Journal- Register (Springfield, IL)

April 19, 2012 Thursday

Suppression of voters a quiet quest

SECTION: OPINIONS; Pg. 7

LENGTH: 596 words

LOS ANGELES - The 2012 presidential election is not only about who votes for Barack Obama and who votes for Mitt Romney.

It is also about who votes.

In a national campaign that does not get much national publicity, at least 41 states have passed laws or are considering new laws making it more difficult to vote in November, or legislation designed to discourage people from even trying to cast ballots, according to a study by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law.

The recently issued report lists five types of laws:

· Photo identification cards. At least 34 states have passed or are considering laws requiring voters to show photo IDs to get to a ballot box or machine. The bills have become law just this past year in Alabama, Kansas, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Mississippi. It seems amazing, but 21 million Americans apparently do not have government-issued identification, including even driver's licenses.

· Proof-of-citizenship laws. At least 15 states have passed or are considering laws requiring voters to show birth certificates or passports to vote.

· Making voter registration more difficult. At least 16 states have passed or are considering legislation that would end same-day registration.

Three of those states, Florida, Illinois and Texas, have also passed laws restricting voter registration drives.

· At least nine states have passed laws or are considering legislation to end early voting days, and four are trying to restrict absentee voting.

· Making it harder to restore voting rights. Two states, Florida and Iowa, have reversed executive action that permitted restoration of voting rights for ex-felons after a given period of time.

I would add at least one more factor in holding down voter turnout: negative advertising. There is some evidence that voters can get so disgusted with massive negative commercials, posters, mail, etc. that they decide not to vote. That could have been a factor in the lower-than-usual turnout in Republican primaries this year. There is no doubt that negative advertising works with many voters, but it may also be creating ex-voters.

Voter suppression is as old as the Republic. After all, only white males who owned property were allowed to vote in a couple of states in our first elections. And the franchise was notoriously denied blacks and women for decade after decade.

At the moment, much of the vote suppression is in Republican-controlled legislations. The phrase "voter fraud" is thrown around, but there is no doubt the idea now is designed to discourage poor people, who are usually both less-informed about the law and more likely to vote for Democrats.

There are and have been many tricks of this old trade. Men in police uniforms, some real, some not, have stood near voting stations, intimidating possible voters who may have had trouble with the law or are just afraid of cops. Men in suits with clipboards asking questions also have an effect on some possible voters. In fact, that was the way William Rehnquist in Arizona began the political activity that eventually made him chief justice of the United States.

Richard Reeves is a columnist for Universal Press Syndicate. His email address is richardreevesweb@aol.com

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St. Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota)

April 19, 2012 Thursday

Pakistani jet crashes; 127 may have died

BYLINE: Pioneer Press

SECTION: NATIONAL

LENGTH: 950 words

Nation & World briefing

ISLAMABAD - Emergency workers with flashlights searched the smoldering wreckage of a passenger jet carrying 127 people that crashed into a muddy wheat field Friday, April 20, while trying to land in a violent thunderstorm at Islamabad's main airport.

The government said there appeared to be no survivors in the crash of the Boeing 737-200 near Benazir Bhutto International Airport - the second major air disaster in the Pakistani capital in less than two years.

Bhoja Air, a domestic carrier that has just four planes, only resumed operations last month after suspending them in 2001 because of financial difficulties.

Bhoja administrative director Javed Ishaq told reporters and relatives of those on board that the jet was in good condition and was brought down by "heavy winds."

Egyptian protests weakened by split

CAIRO - Egypt's Islamist and secular forces sought to relaunch the street uprising against Egypt's ruling military Friday, packing Cairo's Tahrir Square with tens of thousands of protesters in the biggest rally in months and accusing the generals of manipulating upcoming presidential elections to preserve their power.

But attempts by protest organizers to form a united front against the military were blocked by competing agendas. The protest was riven by distrust and resentments that have grown between Islamists and liberals during the rocky, military-run transition process since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak more than a year ago.

Liberals and leftists accuse the Muslim Brotherhood of abandoning the "revolution" months ago and allying with the military in hopes of securing power. In Friday's rally, many said the Brotherhood was only turning to the streets after the generals proved more powerful in decision-making even after an Islamist-dominated parliament was elected.

Syrian troops clash with protesters

BEIRUT - Syrian troops fired tear gas and bullets on thousands of protesters who spilled out of mosques after noon prayers Friday, activists said. State media reported that bombs and shootings killed 17 soldiers as the latest diplomatic efforts failed to halt more than 13 months of bloodshed in the country.

Opposition activists reported that at least 11 Syrian civilians were killed in regime shelling and other attacks Friday, the main day for protests calling for the ouster of President Bashar Assad.

The United Nations hopes to have 30 observers in Syria next week to monitor the tenuous cease-fire between regime troops and opposition, and plans are being made for the deployment of up to a total of 300.

Whatever, you're not guilty anyway

SAN DIEGO - A San Diego court commissioner is denying that a scientist's physics paper had anything to do with her dismissing his $200 traffic ticket.

News outlets reported this week that Dmitri Krioukov of the University of California, San Diego, used an equation-filled paper on the physics of a car in motion to successfully appeal a ticket for failure to stop.

Superior Court Commissioner Karen Riley says that's not true. She tells U-T San Diego that she listened to the physics argument but much of it went over her head.

Riley says she found Krioukov not guilty because the officer who cited him wasn't close enough to the intersection to have a good view.

Mexico truck-bus crash kills at least 43

VERACRUZ, Mexico - A trailer broke loose from a cargo truck and slammed into a passenger bus Friday, killing at least 43 people in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, state government spokeswoman Gina Dominguez said.

Veracruz Gov. Javier Duarte said 27 people were injured in the crash, including seven children.

The victims were workers traveling from Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz to the northern border state of Coahuila, Dominguez said. The accident occurred on a winding stretch of highway near the town of Alamo in the northern part of the state.

The driver of the trailer truck hauling sorghum fled the scene and was being sought by authorities, she said.

Duarte and his wife visited the accident site to oversee the rescue and recovery efforts, promising state support for victims and their families.

Stephen Covey hurt in bicycle accident

SALT LAKE CITY - Motivational speaker and author Stephen R. Covey was recovering Friday in a Provo, Utah, hospital after being knocked unconscious the previous night in a bicycle accident.

The 79-year-old Covey was in stable condition and responding to family members, said his publicist Debra Lund. While there was no timetable for his release, Lund said doctors had not found any sign of long-term damage to his head.

"He just lost control on his bike and crashed," Lund said. "He was wearing a helmet, which is good news."

W.Va. Dem unsure he'll back Obama

WASHINGTON - Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin says he's unsure whether he'll vote for his party's leader, President Barack Obama, or the likely Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

In a statement Friday, the West Virginia lawmaker said he had "some real differences" with both leaders, finding fault with Obama's energy and economic policies while questioning whether Romney could understand the challenges facing ordinary people.

Suspected sale by China stirs concern

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration says it believes that a Chinese manufacturer sold North Korea the chassis and other parts for a missile-transport vehicle displayed in a military parade this week, a senior official said Friday, raising new concerns about China's ability to enforce a ban on military sales to North Korea.

The official said the White House would use the episode to tighten pressure on the Chinese government to better enforce U.N. sanctions forbidding the sale of weapons or technology to North Korea.

- Associated Press, New York Times

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Tampa Bay Times

April 19, 2012 Thursday
Politifact.com Edition

DID OBAMA POLICIES ON ALASKA, SOLYNDRA AND KEYSTONE CONTRIBUTE TO TODAY'S HIGH GAS PRICES?

BYLINE: ANGIE DROBNIC HOLAN

SECTION: POLITIFACT: FLORIDA

LENGTH: 2017 words

Gas prices have doubled because "Obama opposed exploring for energy in Alaska. He gave millions of tax dollars to Solyndra, which then went bankrupt. And he blocked the Keystone pipeline. So we will all pay more at the pump."

American Energy Alliance on Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 in a television ad

* * *

The oil industry group American Energy Alliance released this ad in Virginia, Florida and other states.

Gas prices are fueling a drag race of political ads on Florida television. In one lane, itÕs spiking gas prices under President Barack Obama. In the other, itÕs "Big OilÕs" support for Mitt Romney.

WeÕve fact-checked several claims from these ads. But for this fact-check, weÕre returning to an ad put out by the American Energy Alliance, an advocacy arm of the Institute for Energy Research, which is connected to the oil industry.

"Since Obama became president, gas prices have nearly doubled," the ad says. "Obama opposed exploring for energy in Alaska. He gave millions of tax dollars to Solyndra, which then went bankrupt. And he blocked the Keystone pipeline. So we will all pay more at the pump.

"Obama's energy secretary said we need to, quote, 'boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.Õ That's $9 a gallon. É Tell Obama, we canÕt afford his failing energy policies."

WeÕve fact-checked whether Obama opposed exploring for energy in Alaska (Half True -- he opposed it in some parts), whether he gave millions of dollars to Solyndra (a federal program for alternative energy did), and whether Energy Secretary Steven Chu said gas prices should be at European levels (yes, but it was before he joined the administration).

The ad is right that gas prices have doubled (more than doubled, in fact) since Obama took office in 2009. The average price for gasoline was $1.90 in January 2009; now it's $3.98, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Here, we wanted to explore the adÕs larger point, that ObamaÕs policies on Alaska, Solyndra and Keystone are contributing to those higher gas prices.

Energy exploration in Alaska

The adÕs first claim is that Obama "opposed exploring for energy in Alaska." We found in a previous fact-check that while Obama opposes exploration in some parts of Alaska, his administration has approved drilling in other parts.

Specifically, Obama has opposed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a large nature preserve (roughly the size of South Carolina) managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge is a protected area for wildlife including caribou, polar bears and gray wolves.

But the Obama administration recently approved a plan for Shell Oil to drill in the Chukchi Sea, off the northwest coast of Alaska, giving the green light to ShellÕs contingency plans for cleaning up any spills. The company called that a "major milestone" and said it hopes to drill up to three wells there this summer.

The company also has plans for two wells in the Beaufort Sea, off AlaskaÕs northern coast. The administration approved ShellÕs disaster response plan for that area in March.

But if Obama had given a green light to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, would gas prices be lower today? Not according to the evidence we reviewed.

A 2008 study done by the independent Energy Information Administration for the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, found that it would take 10 years to actually produce oil from the area. And thatÕs only if there were no protracted legal battles, environmental challenge or delays in getting government permits.

So even if Obama had approved drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on the day he was inaugurated, thereÕs no way oil in the ground there would have made it to gas pumps in 2012.

Solyndra

Heard of Solyndra? It was a solar panel manufacturer that won government loan guarantees but then went belly up. We looked into Solyndra when we fact-checked an earlier political ad that said Obama showered special favors on his political friends. The particular charge of cronyism got a Mostly False from the Truth-O-Meter. Solyndra's loan application predated the Obama administration, and career Energy Department officials handled the deal.

We did find that the administration tried to hurry the process, but the evidence pointed to the Obama team wanting to brag about green jobs efforts, not to enrich political cronies. Many private investors also lost money on the Solyndra deal.

Solyndra, based in Silicon Valley, formed in 2005 to build and sell a unique type of solar cell, cylinders that were cheaper and worked better than traditional flat panels. Designed for rooftops, the panels were intended to generate electricity to power buildings like warehouses and retail stores. (Read more details about SolyndraÕs rise and fall here.)

Solyndra walked away from $529 million in federal loans, according to the most recent numbers from the U.S. Department of Energy. But Solyndra was an energy company that focused on generating electricity for buildings -- not gasoline for cars. We searched for any connection between Solyndra and gas prices or even just cars and came up empty.

The Keystone XL pipeline

The ad says Obama blocked the Keystone pipeline. Obama did block the Keystone XL, an addition to an existing pipeline so that oil sands (also known as tar sands or bituminous sands) could be moved from Canada to refineries near Houston, Texas, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Because the pipeline crosses the U.S. border, the State Department must sign off. Back in November, the State Department said it would delay a decision while environmental concerns about the pipeline were addressed. Back then, the pipeline was set to cross over drinking water sources in Nebraska, and people were asking TransCanada, the company behind the pipeline project, for an alternate route.

The company has since said it would work with officials to shift the route. But environmentalists have still said the pipeline shouldnÕt be built at all, because oil sands are harder to clean up when spilled and cost more to turn into gasoline.

Then Congress put new deadlines into play, passing a law that said the Obama administration had to make a decision on the pipeline by February. Obama said that wasnÕt enough time for a thorough environmental review and rejected the pipeline.

The ad again suggests the delay of the pipeline is somehow responsible for todayÕs high gas prices. Since the pipeline was only proposed in 2008 with a then-projected opening of 2013, itÕs hard to see how gas prices in 2012 would be lower. (PolitiFact Ohio also looked in detail the question of whether Keystone approval would cause gas prices to drop in the near term; they ruled that claim False.)

Whether Keystone will reduce gas prices in the future is a contested point that we wonÕt settle in this fact-check. TransCanadaÕs analyst said it would bring down gas prices by 3.5 to 4 cents per gallon, according to Forbes. But environmentalists have seized on arguments that the pipeline could drive gas prices up, by giving Canadian oil an outlet to world markets through the Gulf of Mexico and bypassing U.S. customers. (The Christian Science Monitor explored these issues in some detail.)

Greg Laskoski, a senior petroleum analyst with GasBuddy.com, said Keystone had the closest connection to gas prices, but even that connection was far from simple and more oriented toward future prices. Lower-priced Canadian oil could be of some benefit to refineries in the United States, but that assumes it stays in the United States and isnÕt sold to foreign countries.

"ItÕs not as simplistic as some of these sound bites make it out to be," he said.

None of the above

We contacted the American Energy Alliance to ask them about the connection between these issues and todayÕs gas prices. Spokesperson Benjamin Cole said that ObamaÕs overall policies are hostile to the domestic oil and gas industry, and that markets have reacted with increased prices. (We should note thatÕs a more subtle point than is made in the 30-second ad.)

Not everyone sees it that way, though. ObamaÕs energy policies have been "surprisingly constructive," said Michael Levi, an expert on energy with the Council for Foreign Relations, in a March op-ed for ForeignPolicy.com. In an article titled "The Driller in Chief," Levi argued that ObamaÕs regulations are aimed at "dumb and preventable accidents" that would "do far more to set back U.S. oil and gas development than some smart minimum standards set out at the federal level."

Getting back to todayÕs pump prices, the experts we spoke with were dubious about the impact of any of the above issues -- drilling in Alaska, Solyndra, the Keystone pipeline -- on todayÕs gas prices.

Gas prices reflect the cost of oil on world markets and tend to reflect long-term trends, expectations for economic growth and geopolitical concerns. One example: Rising tensions with Iran, a major oil exporter.

"Looking at this year, whatÕs affected prices are the issues with Iran," said Jessica Brady, a spokesperson for the travel organization AAA, which monitors gas prices.

What about drilling in Alaska, Solyndra and Keystone? "Really, none of those three issues have had an impact on the gas prices weÕve been paying," she said.

Laskoski of GasBuddy.com said a presidentÕs power over gas prices comes mostly from reducing regulations for domestic exploration and refining, as well as discouraging speculation in the oil market. But even those powers are somewhat limited.

"Those are things that can be done that can bring reductions (in prices)," Laskoski said. "All of those things combined might help lower gas prices, but I donÕt know how you can quantify it."

Our ruling

The American Energy Alliance connects todayÕs higher gas prices to a grab bag of ObamaÕs energy policies. We canÕt see how the failing of Solyndra -- a solar panel company that focused on powering commercial buildings -- has any connection with todayÕs gas prices. On Alaska, if Obama had approved drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (which, to be clear, he opposes), actual production would still be at least six years away, and thatÕs a best-case scenario. The Keystone pipeline, meanwhile, is more directly related to gas prices, but even that project would have more impact on future gas prices, not todayÕs higher prices.

We rate the statement False.

* * *

About this statement:

Published: Thursday, April 19th, 2012 at 10:58 a.m.

Subjects: Energy, Gas Prices, Message Machine 2012

Sources:

American Energy Alliance, via YouTube, $9 gas, March 27, 2012

Interview with Benjamin Cole of the American Energy Alliance, April 16, 2012

U.S. State Department, Keystone XL project home page, accessed April 12, 2012

The New York Times, For G.O.P., Pipeline Is Central to Agenda, Feb. 1, 2012

The New York Times, Rejecting Pipeline Proposal, Obama Blames Congress, Jan. 18,2012

Foreign Policy, The Driller in Chief, by Michael Levi, March 1, 2012

PolitiFact, Energy group says Obama objects to energy exploration in Alaska, April 2, 2012

PolitiFact, Sen. Rob Portman says easing access to drilling would immediately reduce dependence on foreign oil, May 4, 2011

Energy Information Administration, "Analysis of crude oil production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge," May 2008

Interview with Philip Budzik of the Energy Information Administration, April 17, 2012

Foreign Policy, The Driller in Chief, by Michael Levi, March 1, 2012

Factcheck.org, Bogus Oil Claims by Crossroads GPS, March 22, 2012

TransCanada, Keystone XL Pipeline Project, accessed April 16, 2012

U.S. State Department, Keystone XL Assessment, Dec. 23, 2010

Email interview with Damien LaVera of the U.S. Department of Energy

Forbes, "Is Obama Really to Blame for Rising Gas Prices? Do You Really Care?" Feb. 27, 2012

TarSandsAction.org, Key Facts on Keystone XL , accessed April 16, 2012

National Resources Defense Council, Keystone XL Pipeline: Undermining U.S. Energy Security and Sending Tar Sands Overseas, accessed April 16, 2012

Written by: Angie Drobnic Holan

Researched by: Becky Bowers, Angie Drobnic Holan, Louis Jacobson, Stephen Koff, Molly Moorhead

Edited by: Aaron Sharockman

LOAD-DATE: April 20, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

145 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

The White House Bulletin

April 19, 2012 Thursday

Political Notes

SECTION: IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND AROUND TOWN

LENGTH: 442 words

President. The Charlotte (NC) Observer reports Mitt Romney, "in what sounded like a preview of his own acceptance speech," came to the Charlotte, where President Obama will be re-nominated, to paint him "as a failed leader whose policies have made the economy worse." ... The Washington Post reports in its "The Fix" blog writes that if Romney "can use the GSA and Secret Service scandals to erode confidence in Obama's ability to competently manage the affairs of the federal government -- the most basic task of any president -- his challenge of unseating the incumbent becomes considerably easier."

Meanwhile, The Hill reports Romney "said Wednesday that he would 'clean house' at government agencies beleaguered by growing scandals." ... The AP reported Romney "wants the United States to get much tougher with Iran and to end what a top adviser calls President Barack Obama's 'Mother, may I?' consensus-seeking foreign policy." ... Bloomberg News reported that Virginia Sen. Jim Webb (D) says "it's a 'big question mark' whether" Obama "will be able to carry his state again in this year's election because Obama's handling of the health-care overhaul harmed his credibility." ... The AP reports Newt Gingrich "returned to Delaware on Wednesday, hoping a victory in the state's primary on Tuesday will lend credibility to his flagging presidential campaign and his plans to shape the Republican national platform."

Senate.

Larry Sabato said on MSNBC's Hardball that the key in the Virginia Senate race between George Allen (R) and Tim Kaine (D) is the prospect for presidential coattails, adding, "I think the winner of the presidential contest in Virginia gets a bonus Senate seat." ... Politico reports that Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Sen. John McCain "have cut ads" in support of Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar "that are likely to air in the closing weeks of his neck-and-neck Republican primary" battle with state Treasurer Richard Mourdock.

House.

The Westchester Journal News reports that Rye town Supervisor Joe Carvin (R), who's seeking to oust NY18 Rep. Nita Lowey (D) in the new NY17 district, "has opened his wallet to kick-start his campaign with $1 million." ... The Miami Herald reports, "Miami-Dade prosecutors on Wednesday formally closed their" probe of FL25 Rep. David Rivera (R) "without filing criminal charges, and called on state lawmakers to stiffen the campaign-finance laws that they say frustrated their 18-month investigation." ... Roll Call reports Ron Barber (D), an ex-aide to former AZ8 Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D), on Wednesday "went up with his first ad," a positive bio spot, "in the race to finish his one-time boss's term."

LOAD-DATE: April 19, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

147 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

Associated Press Online

April 19, 2012 Thursday 9:06 PM GMT

Commercials give hint of campaign ad war to come

BYLINE: By BETH FOUHY, Associated Press

SECTION: DOMESTIC NEWS

LENGTH: 125 words

DATELINE: NEW YORK

Get ready. The presidential ad campaign coming to a TV and radio near you will be nasty, expensive and heavily influenced by independent groups.

President Barack Obama's campaign is already running ads in six swing states tying Republican Mitt Romney to big oil companies. An independent group that supports Romney is also on the air in battleground states with a spot linking Obama's energy policies to the recent spike in gasoline prices.

Several media buyers provided information to The Associated Press showing that Obama's campaign has spent about $2 million on its ad this month in Iowa, Ohio, Colorado, Virginia, Florida and Nevada.

The Republican group isn't far behind. It has spent about the same amount, or $1.8 million, in the same six states.

LOAD-DATE: April 20, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

152 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

Chicago Daily Herald

April 20, 2012 Friday

Ask whether stables meet building codes

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 18

LENGTH: 509 words

Ask whether stables meet building codes

We all have read with sadness of the terrible horse stable fire at Black Tie Stable in McHenry County last week. Eighteen beautiful, well-trained and loved horses destroyed in a matter of minutes from an unknown cause.

The news articles cause the reader to ask what could have been done to save more horses. I believe by now the horse owners have thought of several ways the fire started and spread so quickly.

A significant part of the analysis should deal with the fact that horse stables and show horse arenas in the northeast corner of Illinois have rarely complied with building and fire codes.

These stables are considered by state law to be agricultural and therefore exempt from building codes.

While local governments have tried for decades to get the state to consider hobby and commercial stables and arenas as needing inspections, there has been strong and successful pressure from the horse industry to avoid complying with even the most basic building and fire codes applicable to their buildings.

Could the destruction from the fire have been lessened if the building had met codes? First, you should ask if the stable had been inspected and complied with codes? If it did not, then it is nationally recognized that meeting building and fire codes will reduce fire damage. Many other states already require such code compliance.

Do the horse owners know if their stable and arenas have been inspected and meet building codes? I hope they asked. It's only reasonable to ask if you own a horse such as those destroyed in the fire.

Philip Rovang

Lindenhurst

Make Lake County residents fund road

After reading the Our View column in April 12 Daily Herald, I am upset at some of the proposals for paying for the extension of Route 53 in Lake County.

Why do the people of Lake County feel this should not be a toll road?

They suggest that there should be a toll imposed on Route 53 in Cook County or that the tolls should be increased on the entire tollway system. This extension is for Lake County, and the people who use it should pay for it just like they are proposing to do if they build the new Illiana road in the South suburbs from I-55 to I-65.

Don't take highways that are now free and hand them over to the tollway authority. Also, they are calling it a parkway with a 45 mph speed limit. What is that all about?

If Lake County officials don't want to make the new extension a tollway and let the drivers who use it pay for it, maybe it shouldn't be built and it should not be talked about anymore.

Let the drivers who use it pay for it, or forget about it and move on.

Joe Clark

Palatine

The hypocrisy on Romney wealth

Why are the Democrats making such a big deal out of Mitt Romney's wealth? It sure didn't bother them when the Kennedys were running for office, and they had more money than Romney probably will ever have.

And Obama's Buffet Tax, what a joke. There isn't an economist, Democrat or Republican, who thinks that this tax will pay for Obama's deficits for more than a month. Then what?

Herb Hupfer

Kildeer

LOAD-DATE: April 20, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

153 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 20, 2012 Friday 10:35 PM EST

ADVISORY CNN Wire Outlook

BYLINE: By the CNN Wire Staff

LENGTH: 4060 words

DATELINE: (CNN)

(CNN) -- Supervising News Editor Maggie Leung -- 404-827-1401

UPCOMING

US-Secret-Service (will update)

Three more Secret Service employees have "chosen to resign" from the agency in the wake of a prostitution scandal that emerged last week, according to a statement Friday from the Secret Service.

New-York-Etan-Patz-Investigation (will update)

A carpenter whose former Manhattan basement is the scene of an exhaustive search for clues about Etan Patz said Friday through his lawyer that he had no involvement in the 6-year-old boy's disappearance more than three decades ago.

Bahrain-Unrest-F1 (will update)

The Bahrain Grand Prix will act as a unifying force amid the country's unrest, the Bahraini government said Friday, while opposition activists accused the Gulf kingdom's rulers of cracking down on demonstrations in advance of the race.

Syria-Unrest (will update)

Syrian protesters gathered Friday for demonstrations that were met with armed resistance from government forces, opposition groups said.

Pakistan-Plane-Crash (will update as merits)

A commercial airplane carrying 127 people crashed Friday in Rawalpindi just before it was to land at an Islamabad airport, according to Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority, which cited poor weather as a possible factor. No survivors have been found, officials said.

TRAVEL-California-Interstate-Closure (will update as merits)

The intense search for an armed carjacking suspect continued Friday afternoon after a busy California interstate highway between the San Francisco Bay area and Sacramento reopened after a six-hour closure.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES

TOP STORY

Pakistan-Plane-Crash

US-Secret-Service

Three more Secret Service employees have "chosen to resign" from the agency in the wake of a prostitution scandal that emerged last week, according to a statement Friday from the Secret Service.

Florida-Teen-Shooting (with Florida-Zimmerman-Timeline and Florida-Zimmerman-Details)

George Zimmerman apologized Friday to the family of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed African-American teen that he shot in a confrontation that riveted a nation and sparked intense discussions about race, racial profiling and gun laws.

INTERNATIONAL

Norway-Breivik-Trial

Anders Behring Breivik, who admits killing 77 people in Norway last summer, gave chilling details at his trial Friday of the gun rampage in which he systematically shot dead scores of young people.

France-Election

France's presidential contenders are making their final appeal to voters Friday on the last day of campaigning before they go to the polls Sunday.

French-Election-Five-Things

Five things to know about the French election.

Syria-Unrest

Syrian protesters gathered Friday for demonstrations that were met with armed resistance from government forces, opposition groups said.

Mexico-Deadly-Wreck

Forty-three people were killed and 18 injured Friday morning in a roadway crash involving a bus in the state of Veracruz, the governor's office said.

Egypt-NGOs

Egyptian officials have filed global arrest notices with Interpol for some of the Americans charged for overstepping in their pro-democracy work in Egypt, sources familiar with the matter tell CNN.

Egypt-Election-Protests

The scene Friday in Cairo's Tahrir Square felt familiar. Only this time, the protest came ahead of critical elections. Thousands of Egyptians from across the political spectrum turned out at the iconic plaza unified in their opposition to remnants of Hosni Mubarak's regime and in their determination to protect the goals of a hard-fought revolution.

Bahrain-Unrest-F1 (SPORT-Motorsport-Bahrain-Prince-Ecclestone)

The Bahrain Grand Prix will act as a unifying force amid the country's unrest, the Bahraini government said Friday. Opposition activists accuse the Gulf kingdom's rulers of cracking down on demonstrations in advance of Sunday's race.

Bahrain-F1-Explainer

Democracy campaigners in Bahrain and politicians around the world are calling for this Sunday's Formula 1 race in the Gulf state to be canceled as violent clashes continue between activists and authorities. What are the issues around the controversy, and how are the sport and its fans reacting?

Japan-Bear-Attacks

Two female employees were found mauled to death Friday after six bears escaped their enclosure at a park in northern Japan, a local fire official told CNN.

US-Cyberattack-Warning

On April 27, 2007, the tiny Baltic nation of Estonia -- one of the most wired countries in the world -- was hit with a massive cyberattack. Websites for banks, government ministries, newspapers, Parliament and media outlets were paralyzed, swamped by a distributed denial of service attack. "We were frankly shocked when this happened," said Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves. "Botnets attacked all aspects of society." He contends it was "political act" in which Russia, angered over Estonia's decision to move a Soviet-era statue dedicated to a World War II Russian soldier in Tallinn, tried to shut down the country. Russia has always denied the charge.

TRAVEL-Cruise-Ship-Apology

An American cruise line said Friday it "deeply regrets" the deaths of two Panamanian fishermen amid claims that one of its cruise ships failed to help their stranded boat.

Sudans-Disputed-Region

South Sudan announced Friday it was withdrawing its troops from a contested oil-rich area it seized last week in a move that escalated tensions and fears of a return to war with Sudan.

Pakistan-Attack

Authorities were still searching Friday for hundreds of inmates that were freed after Taliban militants raided a northwest Pakistan prison, including Adnan Rashid who was convicted of trying to murder former President Pervez Musharraf.

Myanmar-Suu-Kyi-Parliament

The Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and members of her party are unlikely to attend the first session of parliament since their election amid a dispute over the wording of the oath that lawmakers have to take, a party spokesman said Friday.

China-react-india-missle

China downplayed India's successful missile launch this week, saying that the two sides are not rivals but cooperating partners.

North-Korea-Chinese-Truck

After weeks of military analysts examining the latest North Korean rocket before and after it's failed launch, now the focus has turned to a truck.

Guinea-Bissau-Coup

Guinea-Bissau political parties announced a president to lead a transitional government that would rule for up to two years, the proposed timeframe for planning new elections.

Iraq-artist-george-bush-shoe-thrower

An Iraqi artist is inspired by the George W Bush shoe thrower. To Iraqi artist Hanaa' Malallah her shoes are weapons of mass destruction that appear in many of her works. Her inspiration is an incident in 2008, when Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi threw his shoes at former president George W. Bush, five years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. The invasion was aimed at rooting out Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction, but U.S. inspectors eventually conceded that he did not have any.

MONEY-Imf-Funding-G20

The International Monetary Fund said Friday that it has received commitments from several nations for more than $430 billion in additional funding to guard against global risks.

MONEY-Ecb-Euro-Financing

The European Central Bank has pulled out all the stops over the past few months to prevent a credit crunch by providing banks with (EURO)1 trillion in ultra-low cost financing.

MONEY-Argentina-Energy-Takeover

Argentina's government announced a brazen takeover of the country's largest energy company this week, potentially quashing a domestic shale gas boom.

MONEY-japan-olympus-board

Shareholders of the Olympus Corp. are widely expected to approve a new board Friday despite objections from a vocal minority of shareholders seeking new management that can distance the company from the $1.7 billion cover-up that rocked Japan Inc.

SPORT-Golf-China-Guan

He created history as the youngest player to participate in a European Tour event but 13-year-old Guan Tian-lang's debut did not have the dream ending he was hoping for.

SPORT-motorsport-sebastian-vettel-f1

Sebastian Vettel is hoping to kickstart his season in Bahrain this weekend as he continues his bid to win a third consecutive world drivers' championship.

SPORT-Football-El-Clasico-Real-Barcelona

Arch rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid meet for the sixth time this season Saturday in an El Clasico clash which is likely to decide the destination of the Spanish title.

SPORT-tennis-serbia-fed-cup

Former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic is hoping to lead Serbia to a historic first Fed Cup final in Moscow this weekend.

SPORT-Tennis-Djokovic-Murray-Carlo

An emotional Novak Djokovic claimed his late grandfather was with him in spirit as he beat Robin Haase to reach the last four of the Monte Carlo Masters.

SPORT-Olympics-Ennis-London-Gold

She's one of Great Britain's brightest medal hopes ahead of the London Olympics but Jessica Ennis isn't relying on home comforts to help land her a maiden Games gold. The heptathlete has had numerous chances to visit the newly-built Olympic Stadium in the east of the English capital and steal a march on her rivals. But the 25-year-old insists she wants her first trip to the arena to come when she takes to the track to make up for the disappointment of missing the 2008 Games in Beijing.

U.S.A.

Florida-Zimmerman-Details

For nearly two months, George Zimmerman has been largely a cipher, a riddle whose voice has been heard only in 911 calls reporting a young man acting "real suspicious." On Friday, the world learned more about Zimmerman as he, his wife and parents testified during a hearing in Sanford, Florida, to decide whether he would be released on bond while awaiting trial on a second-degree murder charge in the February 26 death of Trayvon Martin.

Florida-Zimmerman-Timeline

Here's a look at the timeline of events in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, and the ensuing uproar.

California-Marine-Wife-Dead

A 25-year-old woman has been charged with first-degree murder in the California death of a deployed Marine's wife, San Diego County authorities said Friday.

Kansas-Inmates

Investigators in Kansas have captured a convicted murderer who escaped from jail this week along with three other inmates, authorities said Friday.

New-York-Etan-Patz-Investigation

US-Etan-Patz-Case-Significance

More than 30 years ago, 6-year-old Etan Patz vanished from a Manhattan street on his way to a school bus stop. His parents never saw him again. The case -- lately reopened by police -- riveted millions. It also changed the country. "It awakened America," said Ernie Allen, president and chief executive officer of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. "It was the beginning of a missing children's movement."

US-Coast-Guard-Suspends-Search

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a pilot who for hours circled above the Gulf of Mexico in his twin-engine Cessna 421 before crashing into the water, the guard said Friday.

US-Toyota-subpoenas-auto-advocate

Toyota Motor Corp. has subpoenaed Sean Kane, an auto safety advocate and outspoken critic of the company, asking that he hand over his communications with the media, Congress, government agencies and individual Toyota drivers inquiring about sudden unintended acceleration.

US-University-Colorado-marijuana-rally

When the clock strikes 4:20 p.m. today (4/20), marijuana fans were coming out of the shadows to proudly smoke pot in parks and on college campuses across the country. The number 420 has become synonymous with all things marijuana, but exactly why is less clear. Whatever the number's origin, "420" events across the country have become opportunities to advocate the legalization of marijuana. The expansion of medical marijuana in California, Colorado and other states is making efforts to legalize marijuana more mainstream and making more people comfortable coming out and smoking pot in public, according to Chris Conrad, curator of the Oaksterdam Cannabis Museum in Oakland, California.

TRAVEL-California-Interstate-Closure

MED-Walgreens-Prescription-Settlement

Walgreens will pay governments $7.9 million in a settlement reached amid allegations the drugstore chain illegally paid kickbacks so that prescriptions would be transferred to its pharmacies, the U.S. Justice Department announced Friday.

TECH-facebook-privacy-policy

Facebook unveiled changes to its terms-of-use document on Friday, tweaking earlier drafts in an apparent effort to ease users' concerns about privacy and how their information is used.

POL-Poll-Economy-Mood

The number of Americans who think things are going well in the country is on the rise, according to a new national poll.

POL-Progressives-Target-Democrats

A progressive group is again taking on some Democratic state legislators, calling on Friday for them to drop their membership or association with the American Legislative Exchange Council. ALEC bills itself as a think tank and research resource that brings together state legislators and private business leaders. It says it does not lobby, but holds meetings which bring together legislators and business leaders, as well as provides draft legislation and research to state policymakers.

MONEY-Us-Airways-American-Airlines

Workers for three American Airlines unions have agreed to support a potential merger with US Airways Group, according to a US Air document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday.

MONEY-Chesapeake-Energy-Fire-Sale

Can Chesapeake Energy's chief executive pull yet another rabbit out of his hat? To plug what's been estimated as a $9.2 billion gap between Chesapeake Energy's 2012 capital expenditures and its cash flow, CEO Aubrey McClendon needs to sell assets fast.

MONEY-Stocks

U.S. stocks finished mostly higher Friday, as investors welcomed another round of strong earnings from corporate America and positive news out of Europe.

MONEY-Student-Loans

President Obama will use his bully pulpit to urge lawmakers to prevent a doubling of interest rates on federally subsidized student loans. On July 1, the interest rate on federal subsidized loans will go from 3.4% to 6.8%. That means students taking out loans for the next school year will have to dig deeper in their pockets to pay them off.

MONEY-Social-Security-Medicare

Critical to reining in the United States' long-term debt will be finding ways to control the burgeoning costs of Medicare and Social Security, both of which will face serious funding shortfalls over the next two decades. On Monday, the trustees of those programs will offer their annual update on just when those shortfalls will occur.

ELECTION 2012

POL-Romney-Arizona-Speech

With the Republican primary fight comfortably in his rear view mirror, Mitt Romney made an appeal for party unity Friday in a speech to GOP leaders from around the country.

POL-Romney-GOP-Delegates

Members of the Republican National Committee gathering in Arizona were invited to meet with Mitt Romney in private Friday and have their pictures taken with the presumptive GOP nominee, but there was a price of admission: loyalty.

POL-Kyl-Endorses-Romney

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl threw his support behind Mitt Romney, the candidate's campaign announced Friday.

POL-Romney-Kobach-Adviser

Controversial anti-illegal immigration activist Kris Kobach is an "informal adviser" to Mitt Romney, a spokeswoman for the likely GOP nominee confirmed to CNN.

POL-Jeb-Bush-Romney

Jeb Bush, whose endorsement of Mitt Romney helped secure the candidate as the all-but-certain GOP nominee, said an interview Romney should avoid the urge to wage a negative campaign. The popular former Florida governor also offered up his pick for Romney's running mate, and said he'd consider a spot on the GOP ticket if asked.

POL-Daniels-Romney-Advice

Republican Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels had some advice for Mitt Romney this week, describing the likely Republican nominee's campaign for the White House as too negative.

POL-Romney-Rubio-Campaign

A rising Republican star considered to be on the party's vice presidential short list will campaign on Monday with likely nominee Mitt Romney, campaign officials told CNN.

POL-Romney-Superpac-Fundraising

The primary pro-Mitt Romney super PAC raised $8.7 million in March but also spent heavily, pouring $12.7 million into the month before his primary rival for the GOP nomination withdrew.

POL-Romney-March-Fundraising

Mitt Romney's presidential campaign says they raised nearly $12.6 million in primary funds in March.

POL-Obama-March-Fundraising

President Barack Obama's reelection team increased their war chest by roughly $20 million in March, bringing the incumbent Democrats' cash on hand funds to just over $104 million, more than ten times the amount his likely Republican challenger Mitt Romney declared in federal filings Friday.

POL-Manchin-Vote-Unsure

As a Democrat in conservative West Virginia, Sen. Joe Manchin has sought to make his independence clear. And that independence might just extend all the way to the November voting booth, as the senator -- who is up for re-election - said in a report published Thursday that he might not cast a ballot for the top name on his party's ticket, President Barack Obama.

POL-Paul-Fundraising

Ron Paul's Republican presidential campaign says they raised more than $2.6 million last month, bringing to nearly $10.4 million the amount they took in during the first quarter of this year.

POL-Gingrich-Secret-Service

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's campaign continued to face outrage and claims of "wasteful spending" of taxpayer money on Friday as the candidate keeps his Secret Service detail, which could cost north of $40,000 per day. "Newt Gingrich just needs to really do the right thing and do the particularly responsible thing and say, 'Okay, I don't need Secret Service protection anymore,'" David Williams, president of the taxpayers watchdog group Taxpayers Protection Alliance, told CNN.

POL-Santorum-Campaign-Debt

Rick Santorum's now-suspended campaign for the Republican presidential nomination raised just over $5 million last month, bringing to $18.6 million the campaign brought in over the first three months of the year.

POL-American-Crossroads-Fundraising

A pro-GOP independent super PAC co-founded by Karl Rove says it has raised nearly $100 million so far this campaign cycle.

POL-RNC-Facebook-Campaign

Tapping into the online social networks of voters is a top priority for the digital strategists working for President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney -- and no site offers a larger trove of personal data than Facebook. Now the Republican National Committee is getting into the social media game.

COMMENTARY-Waldman-Prebuttal

Mitt Romney has been using campaign strategy of "pre-buttal" and "bracketing." He idea is to undercut Obama's speeches around the country by getting there first with remarks.

POL-Hatch-Utah-Convention

Sen. Orrin Hatch's political future rests in the hands of 4,000 delegates who will select the party's nominee at Saturday's state Republican convention. In the last year, the six-term incumbent spent millions of dollars to fend off challenges from candidates and outside groups seeking to drive him out of the Senate - a fate that so far looks unlikely for Hatch.

POL-Brown-Warren-Taxes

Sen. Scott Brown's campaign cried "hypocrite" at Elizabeth Warren on Friday over her decision not to pay the optional higher tax rate on her state return. Warren, the Democrat who's challenging Brown for his U.S. senate seat in Massachusetts, has been a stalwart advocate for the so-called Buffett Rule--a proposal advanced by the Obama administration that calls on people making more than $1 million a year to pay federal taxes amounting to at least 30% of their income.

FEATURES

ENT-Dick-Clark-Cremation

Dick Clark, the music impresario and host of "American Bandstand" who died this week, has been cremated, his representative said Friday.

ENT-TheWeight-Lyrics-Debate

The late Levon Helm, who died Thursday, had a wonderfully distinctive voice, but his drawling delivery didn't always make it easy to discern the words of The Band's songs -- which only added to the music's charm.

ENT-bachelor-lawsuit-diversity

Reality programming has long featured contestants of color in their casts. Competition shows like "Amazing Race," "The Biggest Loser" and "Dancing with the Stars" have featured diverse contestants since their inaugural seasons in 2001, 2004 and 2005, respectively. But while African-Americans, Asians and Latinos can be seen racing around the world, losing weight and dancing the paso doble on TV, dating shows continue to be far less inclusive.

ENT-lucky-one-review

No doubt there is a sizeable audience primed for the latest Nicholas Sparks flick, and chances are quite a chunk of that crowd is looking forward to seeing how former teen idol Zac Efron sizes up now he's graduated from "High School Musical."

MONEY-Rich-Ross-John-Carter

The titular hero in the sci-fi epic "John Carter" slayed evil aliens, decimated enemy armies -- and now, he's killed Rich Ross' position as chairman at Walt Disney Studios.

MONEY-Your-Bofa

What would Bank of America look like if it were owned by its customers? YourBofA.com, a parody site launched this week, lets the crowd take a stab at answering that question. Mimicking the real Bank of America site's look, it takes scathing aim at the bank's missteps and invites visitors to share their ideas about what a taxpayer-owned Bank of America should do. Several thousand contributors have already sent in suggestions.

MONEY-Saving-Vs-Spending-Moneymag

I'm 39 with $1.2 million saved. Can I finally live it up?

FEA-Bible-Marketing

Professor David Capes says the Bible "is probably the most owned and least read book out there. That's because, for many, it's too difficult to understand."

FEA-Mormon-Gays

Kevin Kloosterman, a former Mormon bishop, said he "came out" last year -- just not in the way that many people associate with coming out.

MED-bicycle-injuries

Bicycle injuries: Is the right-of-way fight getting ugly?

TRAVEL-national-park-week

Perhaps you've been to the Everglades, toured Yosemite or visited Point Reyes National Seashore and discovered the glorious nature and historical events celebrated and protected by our national parks. Ever been to the longest cave in the world? Or the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier islands in the world? Known to many national park aficionados who collect park passport stamps, the lesser-known national parks throughout the country are also worthy of your visit. Parks will have special programming during National Park Week, April 21-29. And parks that charge admission will waive their fees that week, adding to their allure.

TECH-kinect-star-wars-review

Whenever anything involves the "Star Wars" franchise, there are certain expectations that need to be met to satisfy die-hard, and even casual, fans. So when a new video game wants to bring "Star Wars" to life like never before, that's setting the bar really high. "Kinect Star Wars" tries to use the power of the Kinect controller for the Xbox 360 to put players into the action, using full-body motions to wield lightsabers, drive podracers and, unfortunately, dance for Jabba the Hutt. The game has a few high points but also has more disappointments than a bad motivator on a defective R2 unit.

COMMENTARY-brazile-earth-day-bp

Why we must remember the BP oil spill.

COMMENTARY-risman-mommy-war

Phony "mommy wars" avoid real issues for women.

COMMENTARY-robinson-secret-service

Secret Service still the best and the brightest.

COMMENTARY-rodin-plan-b-world

To prepare for disasters, have a Plan B.

COMMENTARY-Zuckerman-Gergen-Discovery

What Space Shuttle Discovery has inspired in us.

COMMENTARY-Slim-Syria-uprisings

A game changer for Syria?

LOAD-DATE: April 21, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

NOTES: The outlook is for guidance only, not for publication.

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

154 of 2061 DOCUMENTS

CNN Wire

April 20, 2012 Friday 2:20 PM EST

Crossroads nears $100 million mark

BYLINE: By Paul Steinhauser, CNN Political Editor

LENGTH: 204 words

DATELINE: Washington (CNN)

Washington (CNN) -- A pro-GOP independent super PAC co-founded by Karl Rove says it has raised nearly $100 million so far this campaign cycle.

An official for American Crossroads confirms to CNN that the super PAC and its nonprofit affiliate Crossroads GPS combined brought in $99.8 million since the start of 2011, with $49 million of the haul raised just in the past three months.

The group says that American Crossroads has $24.4 million cash on hand as of the end of March.

"There was a prevailing sense that the GOP primary would dampen fundraising for outside groups like Crossroads, but our supporters are as engaged as ever, and focused on stopping Obama's policies and defeating him at the polls," Crossroads communications director Jonathan Collegio told CNN.

Crossroads, which supports Republican candidates and causes, will most likely play a large role in helping the GOP ticket, especially in the next few months as the campaign of presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney concentrates on fundraising for the general election. Earlier this month the group went up with both TV commercials and radio ads that were critical of President Barack Obama.

Crossroads campaign cash figures were first reported by Politico.

LOAD-DATE: April 21, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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Daily News (New York)

April 20, 2012 Friday
SPORTS FINAL EDITION

Giving to the enemy Yanks big fills rival's coffers

BYLINE: BY BRIAN BROWDIE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 19

LENGTH: 313 words

WHAT'S NEXT, an endorsement from Derek Jeter?

Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown has played up his allegiance to the Red Sox - but has accepted campaign cash from their arch-enemies, the Yankees.

Brown, the Republican incumbent, has played up his local-boy image by touting his ties to the Red Sox and iconic Fenway Park during his hotly contested race against liberal darling Elizabeth Warren.

But he had no qualms about accepting a $2,500 campaign donation from Bronx Bombers president Randy Levine.

Brown's team tried to spin the unlikely - and, to some, unholy - alliance.

"We're happy to accept Randy Levine's donation," Brown spokesman Colin Reed told the Boston Herald. "The way Scott Brown looks at it is, this is their way of paying us back for Babe Ruth."

Before taking his position with the Yankees, Levine was a deputy mayor to Rudy Giuliani - perhaps the nation's most visible Yankees fan.

He has donated to prominent Republicans, including Mitt Romney, as late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner did.

Brown, who stunned the political world by winning Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in a 2010 special election, released a radio ad showcasing his love for Fenway Park, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary Friday in a game against - who else? - the Yankees.

"Families throughout the years will never forget their first Fenway experience," Brown said in the ad. "I know I never will. Go Sox!"

Warren, a former member of President Obama's administration, has committed a Red Sox-related error of her own.

The Harvard professor in December botched the answer to a trivia question asking what years the Red Sox have won the World Series in this century.

She guessed 2004 and 2008 - when the team's second title was actually won in 2007.

Warren edges Brown by just one percentage point, 46% to 45%, among likely voters, a poll released last week by Rasmussen reports.

bbrowdie@nydailynews.com

LOAD-DATE: April 20, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

GRAPHIC: Yankees president Randy Levine Mass. Sen. Scott Brown

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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The Frontrunner

April 20, 2012 Friday

Air War In Romney-Obama Race May "Be One Of The Most Negative In History."

SECTION: NATIONAL CAMPAIGN NEWS

LENGTH: 125 words

The AP (4/20) reports, "The presidential ad campaign coming to a TV and radio near you is going to be nasty, expensive and heavily influenced by independent groups, particularly those that favor Republican Mitt Romney over Democrat Barack Obama. ... The emergence of outside groups known as super PACs is all but certain to ratchet up the negativity, adding a level of slash-and-burn rhetoric to the campaign that the candidates themselves might seek to avoid. 'The 2012 Republican primary was by far the most negative we've seen and my expectation will be that the 2012 general election will be one of the most negative in history,' said William Benoit, who studies campaign advertising at Ohio University. 'The super PAC ads will make it even more so.'"

LOAD-DATE: April 20, 2012

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newswire

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The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News

April 20, 2012 Friday

The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester, Granite Status column

BYLINE: The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester

SECTION: STATE AND REGIONAL NEWS

LENGTH: 4718 words

April 20--FRIDAY, APRIL 20, UPDATE: "FRANKING" GUINTA. Republican Rep. Frank Guinta spent $164,629 on taxpayer-funded, or so-called "franked" mailings in 2011, which, according to a California newspaper, is tops in the U.S. House.

Guinta's chief of staff did not dispute the figure and said the freshman congressman has cut his office budget significantly, returned more than $50,000 to the Treasury and believes that "constituent service" is his top priority.

The Granite Status verified the figure, which is reported by the U.S. House on its web site in quarterly "statements of disbursement" and is also reported by a nonprofit watchdog group called the Sunlight Foundation.

Christine Bedell, government editor for the Bakersfield Californian newspaper, first reported that Guinta ranked first in franked mail spending. She said she sorted by amount the franked mail data provided in the congressional statements of disbursement and reported by the Sunlight Foundation and Guinta "came out on top."

U.S.Rep. Charlie Bass spent $22,344 on franked mail in 2011, ranking him at 202nd among 435 House members.

In 2010, Guinta criticized Democratic former congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter for sending out taxpayer-funded mailings that he said resembled campaign material.

"There is a thin line between maintaining a rapport with one's constituents and electioneering," then-candidate Guinta wrote on his campaign web site in 2010. "These pamphlets violate the idea of a 'Congressional Update,' and show an abuse of a representative's franking privileges."

Today, Guinta was criticized by state Democratic Party chairman Raymond Buckley.

"Frankly, Frank Guinta is hypocritical," Buckley said. "He is spending more than any other congressman in the nation and he is using taxpayer dollars to run for re-election."

"These are highly produced, campaign-style mailings that were prepared for and mailed at the taxpayer's expense. A practice that, before he went to Washington, be protested against."

He cited a mailer that was photographed and published on the pro-Democratic Blue Hampshire web site.

Buckley called on Guinta to "return the money he spent on these campaign materials to the taxpayers and issue an apology."

Guinta chief of staff Ethan Zorfas responded, "Congressman Guinta has cut his office's budget by 11.4 percent and, in addition, returned over $50,000 to the Treasury at the end of 2011.

"Constituent service will always be the congressman's top priority," said Zorfas. "Mailings are used for invitations to Job Fairs, Women's Conferences and Manufacturing Job Summits. The benefit to Granite Staters is apparent: increased communication with their government and lower operating expenses."

(Earlier updates and the full April 19 Granite Status follow.)

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, UPDATE: EMILY'S LIST FOR CAROL. Democratic former Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, trailing Republican incumbent Rep. Frank Guinta in fund-raising so far in the 2012 election cycle, received a big boost on Friday.

The pro-choice women's fund-raising group EMILY's List endorsed Shea-Porter for the third time. It also endorsed her in 2008 and 2010.

The backing means she will receive campaign donations from EMILY's list supporters and donors.

Shea-Porter, who is trying to regain the 1st District House seat she held for two terms before losing to Guinta in 2010. As we reported this week, she trailed Guinta in cash on hand after the first quarter, $183,159 to $674,747.

"We are really excited about the campaign she's running. Our members obviously know and love her. And and strong progressive women like Carol are going to be the reason Democrats take the House back this November," said EMILY's List spokesperson Jess McIntosh.

In a statement, EMILY's List president Stephanie Schriock said Shea-Porter "has been an effective advocate for women and working families throughout her career. A strong and progressive voice for New Hampshire, Carol has spent her career standing up for the rights of middle class families and working to increase access to quality education and health care. Carol's dedication and no-nonsense attitude are exactly what Washington needs and the entire EMILY's List community is thrilled to stand with her."

Shea-Porter was among five Democratic women running for the House recommended by EMILY's List to its members today.

The others were Shelley Adler of New Jersey, Kathy Boockvar of Pennsylvania, Julia Brownley of California and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.

The group has already endorsed Democratic candidate Ann McLane Kuster in New Hampshire's 2nd District.

Also on Friday, Guinta and fellow GOP Rep. Charlie Bass reacted to news reported earlier this week by Politico and the Granite Status that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has reserved $520,000 worth of air time on WMUR television in Manchester for post-Labor Day advertising to oppose them.

Both sent out fund-raising emails mentioning the planned expenditure.

"Liberals on TV!" was the subject of Guinta's email. Bass's plea was entitled "DCCC Tries to Buy New Hampshire."

(Earlier updates and the full April 19 Granite Status follow.)

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, UPDATE: A WIN FOR THE NHGOP. A key Republican National Committee panel Thursday backed NHGOP committeewoman Phyllis Woods' proposal to no longer punish New Hampshire delegations to future national conventions if other states force the first-in-the-nation primary to be held as early as January in 2016 and beyond.

An amendment to the party rules sponsored by the outgoing Republican National Committeewoman from Dover was approved by a voice vote of the RNC's rules committee meeting this afternoon in Scottsdale, Ariz. While the vote was not a final passage, it did provide vital momentum as the plan now moves forward through the RNC process.

Woods said going into the meeting she though it had only a "50-50" chance of passing. She said afterward she was surprised at the ease at which the proposal was passed.

Woods said the vote "reinforces the intent of the RNC's existing rule that the early states be recognized as vital to the nominating process and should not be penalized if they are forced to move up."

Her plan now goes to the full RNC at its pre-Republican National Convention meeting in Tampa this summer. If passed there, it will have even more momentum as it's considered by the convention rules committee and, finally, the full national convention.

A significant faction of the RNC has long resented the early primary status of not only New Hampshire, but also Iowa, South Carolina and, more recently, Nevada.

But that sentiment wasn't evident Thursday, much to the surprise of the state RNC members at the meeting, who expected a tough battle.

"It's a great day," said Woods' fellow state RNC member, Steve Duprey.

"It's a tribute to Phyllis' leadership on this issue," added state GOP chairman Wayne MacDonald.

Duprey said, "We were cautiously optimistic going in because Phyllis, Wayne and I have been talking it up for some time, but I was surprised by how little opposition there was."

He said only one member of the rules committee stood up to voice concern and others who were expected to be in opposition remained silent.

Duprey said a few other key players stated that the early state status for New Hampshire and the others "is part of (the party's) history and has shown that it works well."

Woods is trying to amend the RNC rule because she felt it was unfair that Republicans in New Hampshire and the other early states should be penalized by the RNC and lose half their convention delegates because other so-called "rogue" states, by moving up their primaries or caucuses, force these early states to then move up their contests to January of the presidential election year.

The current RNC rules allows New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada to hold their contests a month ahead of all other states, but no earlier than Feb. 1.

This year, the Florida GOP decided to ignore the RNC and hold its primary on Jan. 31, in violation of the RNC's mandate that it be held no earlier than March 1. The Florida move prompted South Carolina Republicans to hold their first-in-the-South primary on Jan. 21.

In turn, New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner, following a state law that requires the Granite State to hold its primary seven days ahead of any "similar election," set New Hampshire's primary for Jan. 10.

As a result, the RNC is sanctioning New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida by allowing them to bring only 50 percent of their delegates to the Republican National Convention. Iowa, which held a caucus on Jan. 3, is allowed to bring a full delegation because its delegates were officially selected after Feb. 1. Nevada was not sanctioned because it held its caucus after Feb. 1.

For New Hampshire, it means only 12, instead of 23, delegates, will be allowed to participate in the Tampa convention.

Woods' proposed rule change would remove the Feb. 1 restriction for early state contests but still require them to hold their primaries or caucus no earlier than one month before "the next earliest state." It also keeps in place the existing requirement that the early primaries and caucuses must be held "in the year in which a national convention is held." That means state Republicans would still be punished if the primary is, in the future, held in December or earlier of the previous year.

Woods' plan won't undo the punishment levied by the RNC this year, but it would apply to 2016, and, once in the rule book, the likelihood is vastly increased that it would continue to be renewed in future cycles.

Duprey said the larger issue is that it finally appears the powerful RNC rules committee is accepting New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation status. He said that in prior years, New Hampshire representatives on the RNC had to fight hard for the early-state "carve out."

"I still think the people who oppose any special status for the early states may try to come after us, but they could have done it today, and they didn't," he said.

"We're going to have to monitor the committee to see if any opposition develops going forward," Duprey said. "But in the years 20 years I've been doing this, this is the first time that people accepted that New Hampshire, South Carolina and Iowa and Nevada are carved out and should stay there, and it works."

While state Republicans have had to fight for early-state status at the RNC, it's been a different story in recent years for state Democrats. For the last two cycles, they received waivers from the Democratic National Committee and once again this year will be bringing a full delegation to their convention in Charlotte.

"I'm sensing more comfort or acceptance of our first-in-the-nation status," said NHGOP chair MacDonald. He said he believes the RNC, or at least key players in the RNC, are beginning to understand that "there is a case to be made for relatively small states vetting the candidates early in the process."

He said he and other key Granite State Republicans "will continue to pursue" getting a waiver from the existing rule this year so that a full delegation can be seated. "But to be honest, at this point I don't see that happening," MacDonald said.

(An earlier update and the full April 19 Granite Status follow.)

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, UPDATE: CONSERVATIVES TO GATHER. Conservatives and Republicans are expected to gather for two key events this weekend.

Americans for Prosperity-New Hampshire president Corey Lewandowski says about 300 attendees are confirmed for its second annual "Conservative of the Year" banquet honoring New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, at the Grappone Center in Concord.

Sen. John Thune of South Dakota will appear as a guest speaker and former Gov. John H. Sununu will speak on behalf of presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

On Saturday, Tea Party activists will gather at Guppey Park in Dover for an event entitled the "Jack's Back Save Our Republic Tea Party." Former state Republican Party chairman Jack Kimball, who has returned to chair the Granite State Patriots Liberty PAC, is hosting.

Radio talk show host and conservative activist Jeff Chidester will emcee the event. Guest speakers include state Rep. Dan Itse, social conservative activist Karen Testerman, state GOP vice chairman Cliff Hurst, Gold Star Mother Natalie Healy and activist Irena Goddard.

"In the last several months I have been asked countless times, 'Where is the Tea Party?'" said Kimball, "and my response has been, 'We are here, and we are directly involved with taking back our republic.' Now it's time to get back out and become visible.

"The Tea Party folks are all still here," Kimball said. "We do not intend to let Occupy Walkl Street shape the dialogue in New Hampshire."

Also today, the Granite Status has learned that the state Republican Party is planning an annual dinner for May 30 at the Radisson hotel in Manchester. Details have yet to be announced.

(The full April 19 Granite Status follows.)

THURSDAY, APRIL 19: QUARTERLY REPORTS. So, who's giving to whom? The quarterly reports are in, so it's a good time to take a look at the congressional races.